Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara, Regional Cooperation Ministry Director-General Hashem Hussein and Regional Cooperation Ministry Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal Authority Director Maya Eldar on Tuesday morning 1 Sivan briefed the Knesset Science & Technology Committee regarding the Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal project.

Kara briefed MKs on the progress in the project, especially over the past year, as well as on its future timetable. He noted than on 20 June 2016 the advance tender will close in which the companies that will bid on the tender for the construction of a desalination facility will be chosen. Joint Israeli-Jordanian teams have begun work on the desalination tender. It is estimated that two years will elapse between publication of the tender and its financial closing and that construction of the facility will take three years.

Deputy Minister Kara said, “The Red Sea-Dead Sea canal project is among the most important that can be presented on Environment Day in the Knesset due to its major contribution to saving the Dead Sea. I feel that in Jordan there is the determination to carry out the project, which there was not in the past. We are in continuous contact with Jordanian Water Minister Hazem Nasser, who is vigorously working to promote the project. The project will greatly contribute to the strengthening of bilateral economic relations and I believe that it can help us break other borders as well.”

Hussein emphasized that the project would be carried out in stages in order to measure its environmental impact even as it progresses: “We are taking into account, and are attentive to, the concerns of environmental organizations. To this end we chose to implement the project in three stages. At the end of each stage the environmental impact will be assessed as will the need to make adjustments. At last month’s donor countries conference in Aqaba, we began contacts with the World Bank and other elements in order to simultaneously advance the project to rehabilitate the southern Jordan River, which will further contribute to the rehabilitation of the Dead Sea.”

Eldar made it clear that the project is the best alternative from an environmental perspective: “The steering committee considered several proposals and this was found to be the best proposal for saving the Dead Sea. All partner countries recognize the urgent need to rehabilitate the Dead Sea, one of our greatest natural treasures, and thus we are all committed to advancing this project.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)