Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., June 23, 2008 Sivan 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:46 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 05:23 22/06/2008 Turning the desert into a wasteland By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Shimon Peres, Arava, Israel  Heads of state including President Shimon Peres, tycoons, World Bank officials and plain old visionaries have been furiously preoccupied of late with the Arava region and the Dead Sea. They propose to "make it bloom" by developing lakes, hotels and a host of other building plans, and to desalinate massive amounts of water using a canal that would conduct water from the Gulf of Eilat to the Dead Sea. That will stop the decline in the level of the Dead Sea. Here are a few facts about the vision's status: No official body currently possesses a clear plan under which we could ascertain the cost of turning the desert into a wasteland, and of carving out a canal stretching more than 100 kilometers. To date, no one has studied the feasibility - engineering, economic or environmental - of the canal's route, and it is not clear where it would go. The World Bank is supposed to conduct such a study; it will take about two years. There is no well-founded assessment on the environmental and ecological ramifications of the project. Even worse, it is unclear what the objectives are of the various ideas. Advertisement Business people want to turn the Arava on both sides of the border between Israel and Jordan into one big tourism and trade zone. On the other hand, the World Bank is looking solely into the possibility of a canal passing deep within Jordanian territory and serving the purpose of desalination and energy production. All these are not minor details for which technological solutions can be found. Expensive energy production might prove unworthwhile compared with other alternatives. The cost of desalination might be high compared with desalination along Mediterranean shores. The impact of introducing Red Sea waters into the Dead Sea might be far-reaching, and the ability of the projected canal to withstand earthquakes is also a matter to be addressed seriously. The ecological impact on an area where a riveting system of landscape contours and diverse flora and fauna have developed might be especially destructive. As far as some of Israel's decision makers are concerned, the Arava is like a great big motherlode to be mined. They probably recall with nostalgia Nathan Alterman's poem from more than half a century ago: "Wake up, wilderness, your fate has been sealed, we are coming to conquer you" (from "Shir Hakvish," 1949). There is a real concern that some of those behind the project are pushing for hasty and partial studies, and are trying to bypass planning and vetting procedures. To that end they are spouting excessive promises about how useful the project will be, out of an expectation that the path to the Arava will be cleared quickly so the vision may be realized. That attitude, according to which plans for an ecologically vulnerable and earthquake-prone region can be approved without conducting in-depth studies, attests to profound contempt for procedures that have become a basic requirement for approving construction plans throughout the world. It renders the vision dangerous not only for the Arava, but for all planning and decision-making proceedings in Israel. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sarkozy's promise 'France will never compromise Israel's security' Israel's agenda Is an Israeli strike on Iran still on the government's agenda?   1.   half baked notions. environment has always changed nothing new 23:09  |  ralph 22/06/08   2.   Did you really intend "wasteland"? 05:12  |  Sue 23/06/08   3.   wasteland 08:31  |  lynn 23/06/08

Read & React Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel Responses: 347 Israel: There will be no Shalit deal unless Hamas is flexible Responses: 103 Yossi Melman: Israel is a long way from attacking Iran Responses: 148 Report: N. Koreans worked on Iran nukes at Syria plant hit by IAF Responses: 116 Gideon Levy: Does Israel really want peace? Responses: 127 More Headlines 08:12 Hezbollah deal delayed over demand to include Palestinian prisoners 08:15 Report: Israel to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit 08:17 ANALYSIS / Prisoner deals - risk of an unsolved mystery 08:18 Sarkozy: There won't be Middle East peace without Syria talks 05:44 Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? 03:09 Frustrated and losing hope, Shalit's parents fight Gaza cease-fire 06:49 What are 300 Anglican clergy doing in Jerusalem? 19:19 Panel: Germany gave Israel NIS 61.5 billion, Holocaust survivors got about half 01:46 Barak ignores Olmert threat, vows Labor will vote to dissolve Knesset 03:11 Route 66 victims paid with their lives for lack of NIS 9-million lane divider 05:19 Family of 17-year-old suspect defend him; classmates saw 'toy criminal' 06:24 Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel 22:42 Minister Ayalon: Israeli Arabs should have 'cultural independence' Previous Editions Select Day 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Free Hebrew Private Lesson www.iStudyHebrew.com Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved