News  Mideast News
Israel, Jordan, PA sign historic Red Sea-Dead Sea canal deal
Nahum Barnea
Published: 09.12.13, 08:34
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18 Talkbacks for this article
1. First of many Inshallah
Sammy ,   Newcastle   (12.09.13)
But we say again to the PA You have got to create a calmer atmosphere without the Media and Government Incitement and constant characterisation of Palestinians in the West Bank as victims and Israel as Evil Lets promote pride in OUR achievements and pride in open , productive relations with Israel and Jordan Its no surprise that for example Palestinian Owners of Construction Companies in the US, Canada and Australia want to be able to set up shop in the West Bank and bid and tender for Contracts to build in Israel, Food Manufacturing and Clothing Companies to supply to the Israeli Arab Market....but these Businesses will ONLY come if the atmosphere is settled and conducive to Trade So it works BOTH ways Open and constructive relations are good for the Palestinian Economy and its good for Peaceful Coexistence
2. What About Nuclear Shelter Money
Zechariah   (12.09.13)
What's the use of this project if the Powers allow Nuclear Proliferation by threshold capacity .
3. Desalinating? Purifying? Better not drink it
Mark ,   Lodz, Poland   (12.09.13)
They better draw the water from miles out and do a good job because the clock-wise current carries Eilat sewage to Aqaba. Notwithstanding, IMO, still an ecological and potentially political disaster.
4. And what happens if Jordan decides to shut us out of the...
Yitzchak ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (12.09.13)
water after we have paid the biggest hunk of the cost to construct it?
5. Will Kinneret water level decrease ?
NotClear4Kinneret ,   Jerusalem Israel   (12.09.13)
Not clear in the article what affect all this water give away from the Sea of Galilee will have on water levels there need more clarification.
6. It's a bad deal for Israel
cancel the deal   (12.09.13)
Israel only loses water in this deal. Israel has to give more water to Jordan and the PA than it gets back.
7. good
lola ,   australia   (12.09.13)
this has been hanging fire for years. looks to me like a good thing. hope it goes ahead this time
8. To: Mark at No. 3
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.09.13)
It's not potable for human consumption without significant purification, but vegetation doesn't seem to mind. Water with a minimum of desalinization / purification is perfectly fine for agricultural use. I suspect that will be its principal use. Of course, we could just leave the Dead Sea alone and stop hoicking out all the minerals -- especially potash -- but I digress. I'm fine with the proposed pipeline. Minimal ecological effect upon Israel, and water for sustaining agriculture in the Arava and Eilat, which has always been an expensive prospect.
9. If nothing else
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.09.13)
at least this proves that cooperation is possible between us when necessary.
10. Good interim project, not final solution
Robert ,   USA   (12.09.13)
This is a good project that provides water for Eilat and Agaba, helps reduce the shrinking of the Dead Sea, and demonstrates that cooperative business enterprises between Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank are a plus for each nation... hope it works out. The real/best solution which provides enough volume to reverse the decline of the Dead Sea, is the Med-Dead project which would bring water from the Med through Israel to the Dead Sea. This will be an all-in-Israel project which makes it's safe from interruption and of most benefit to the Negev.
11. Agree, Robert, that Med-Dead was wiser option
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (12.09.13)
The Med-Dead alternative would have been an all-Israel project, and a shorter path to termination, making it less costly. And simpler to implement as Israel wouldn't need approval of PA or Jordan. But the World Bank won't put up one dollar for an Israeli project. They will, however, help fund a Red-Dead project that requires, and thus encourages, cooperation between the three parties.
12. "Jordan plans to build a nuclear reactor" to power Red-Dead
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.09.13)
13. to #11 - just a water deal for Eilat
Robert ,   USA   (12.09.13)
Raymond, When you look at the volumes of water it's obvious that this is a deal for water supply to Eilat/Agaba and may be a pilot test for a larger project... Israel gives away more water than it gets, but gets water where it needs it and gives water where it will soon have a surplus, and it's a good cooperative effort which will be the only basis for peace. Great point about World Bank funding. Longer term, 2018 and out, the Med/Dead will likely be done since it supplies water to the Negev and "fixes" the Dead Sea problem, though the Dead Sea will be different, with the top 300 feet or so being ocean water which will support fisheries... hard to imagine, but someday our children may go fishing in the Dead Sea with life jackets on and listen to stories about being unable to sink in it.
14. I am mighty proud of Jordan
Israeli 2   (12.09.13)
NOW, one more thing Jordan, the PLO and Israel should agree with and sign as soon as possible for a long lasting peace to develop is for Jordan to acquiesce a portion of their land (which is Israel's land to begin with) to the so called "other Jordanians" or "Palestinians" and on that land, they can have anything they want. A military, right of return...everything.
15. IT IS FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY
Iranian Jew ,   LA   (12.10.13)
to get Jordan to recognize WB as its land and vice versa. There is a chance to build a unique society here. Israel can help Jordan and WB develop into a heaven and prosper for years to come. But will Arabs see it that way? Probably not! They will fight for death and destructions rather than progress.
16. The entire route of the canal goes through Jordan
Jake   (12.10.13)
That's what the map shows. Eilat already has desalination plants, so receiving some desalinated water from Jordan, while giving up (more) water from the Kinneret...errr, how is that a good deal for Israel?
17. why do we always have to be the good neighbour
zionist forever   (12.11.13)
This deal with Jordan involves Israel giving nearly twice as much water as Jordan gives and we are being expected to give the palestinians ( our enemies ) water, this is wrong. Only good thing about this deal is Jordan is responsible for laying the pipeline. The palestinians have their own aquifers. In some the water has been damaged because of the pollution they created but that is not an excuse for Israel to give the ENEMIES millions of cubic meters of scarce Israeli water. Whats in it for us other than being good neighbours? I imagine that any kind of palestinians state agreement will involve Israel annually supplying the arabs with Kineret water.
18. Sarah B ,...
split ,   US   (12.13.13)
"Water with a minimum of desalinization is perfectly fine for agricultural use" ,... Eureka !!! Another zionist agro achievement missed by others ,...
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