Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud, and PA Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ghassan al-Khatib will sign the agreement.
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are expected to sign a tripartite agreement today for jointly conduct a feasibility study of a "peace water carrier" - a canal from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer will sign an MOU for carrying out the $20 million, four-year study. The study will examine five main subjects: the environmental impact on the Gulf of Eilat from pumping out water; the environmental impact on Wadi Arava from the transit of water; the feasibility of a seawater desalination facility at the Dead Sea, especially to meet Jordan and the Palestinians' water needs; and the impact on the water quality of the Dead Sea by an influx of seawater.
The Ministry of National Infrastructures says the Red-Dead Sea Canal is very important because of the fall of the water level of the Dead Sea. The canal will be built on the Jordanian side of the border and financed by the World Bank and donor nations.
The other signatories will be Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud, and PA Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ghassan al-Khatib.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 9, 2005