Court demands state set up body to address risk of Dead Sea flooding

The High Court of Justice has ordered the State to submit within 60 days a revised plan for dealing with the danger of flooding of Dead Sea hotels. The court said the plan must include the establishment of a specially designated administration.

In the petition, the Dead Sea Hotel Association claimed that the State was responsible for dealing with a potential crisis, because it had encouraged the construction of the hotel area, despite predictions that sea level may rise due to the industrial activity at the Dead Sea Works.

It also claimed that the State had failed to abide by its own schedule - even though the adequate budget had been allotted - and to promote a long-term solution to the matter.

To date, an administration has not been established and a professional project manager has not been appointed.

The judges criticized the State for not abiding by the schedule it had set up for itself and for its attempt to deny responsibility. They ordered the State to submit within 60 days a "revised, thoughtful and serious" plan, which will include the establishment of a suitable project administration.

The court also summoned the Tourism Ministry director-general and the administration director to the next hearing, which is due to take place in November.