Israel , Jordan and Palestinian Authority signed agreement on Seas Canal

An "historic" agreement for laying of a conductor of four water pipes from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, a project known as the "Seas Canal", and in English – "The Red Dead Project", was signed this evening (Monday) in the World Bank headquarters in Washington between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

In any case, in the new incarnation of the project a canal will not be dug, because of the high cost of digging.

Minister of Regional Cooperation, Silvan Shalom, signed the agreement on behalf of Israel. On behalf of Jordan, the Minister for Water and Irrigation sigend, and on behalf of the Palestinian Authority - Minister for Water, Shaddad Attili.

In an interview with Globes, Minister Shalom said: "I'm happy I got to be one of the executors of this dream of generations. We are now fulfilling the vision of Theodor Herzl and for me it is a holiday. This is an historical process that has economic, political and environmental implications. Not only will we be able to provide water for residents of the Arava and Eilat, but also contribute to regional cooperation with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority and will slow down the dehydration process of the Dead Sea."

The Minister said that the costs of construction of pipelines are estimated at between 300 and 400 million dollars. Israel and Jordan are supposed to share the costs and the World Bank will coordinate recruiting additional funding from donor countries. The length of the first pipe to be laid will be 180 kilometers and its route will pass entirely in the territory of Jordan. Works on laying the pipe should last about three years.

In 2014 an international tender will be issued for the first stage of the project: a desalination plant to be built near Aqaba in Jordan. The facility will be built and operated using the BOT system, which means that the company which will acquire the plant will build it, will activate it while making a profit and after a certain period of time (usually more than 20 years) move it to the issuer of the tender.

The project should provide desalinated water for irrigation in Israel, Jordan and the PA, and inject water into the Dead Sea and thus slow down its rate of dehydration. According to the agreement, about 200 million cubic meters per year will be pumped from the Red Sea. Approximately 80 million cubic meters will be desalinated in the facility in Aqaba, and Israel will receive approximately 30 million to 50 million cubic meters, which will be transferred to the Arava and Eilat. Jordanians will receive 30 million cubic meters in the south, and another 50 million cubic meters of fresh water in the North from the Sea of Galilee, at sale price. Israel plans also offer freshwater to the PA at selling prices.

Shalom said that Israel plans to offer electricity generation in the project by utilizing the difference in height between the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. In the more distant future, Israel plans to initiate artificial lakes to serve as tourist attractions

Israel conceived the project and has been trying to push it from back in the 70s, but only now it is beginning to take shape. But critics, especially in organizations that protect the environment, note the current incarnation of the project is a much more modest version of the original plan. They claim that this project will provide only about 10 % of the water needed to stabilize the level of the Dead Sea at its current level, and the format of the planned operation of the project will harm the delicate ecological infrastructure of the region.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!