6. Forum and Scope: Bilateral

A Dead Sea canal project would have to be negotiated between Jordan and Israel. There is no precedent for joint water development of the Jordan Rift Valley. Despite the fact that the two countries share a scarce common resource, they have pursued irrigation and diversion projects independent of one another for the past 50 years. In fact, in 1964, the Arab League countries attempted to sabotage Israel's National Water Carrier project by diverting Jordan headwaters. Israel anticipated Arab ambitions and wisely shifted the diversion point from the upper Jordan to Lake Tiberias. Given this history, a Med-Dead or Red-Dead Canal would mark the first cooperative water development project in the Jordan Valley. Such a project has potential for regional cooperation on large-scale desalination projects. For example, the point of intake for the original Med-Dead Canal would have run parallel to the Israel-Egypt border, which opens up the possibility of a tri-national (Egyptian-Israeli-Palestinian) agro-industrial complex providing a continuous supply of freshwater to agriculture in the Negev and Sinai Deserts. Similarly, a Red-Dead Sea route could lead to joint Jordanian-Israeli-Palestinian development of agriculture and industry in the Arava Valley. Even if large scale regional projects do not emerge, the Israeli and Jordanian governments must consider Palestinian participation in agreements/projects that affect the flow of water to Palestinian-occupied areas. Previous water allocation schemes, such as the Johnston Unified Water Plan of 1955 and the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty failed to consider Palestinian needs. The Palestinian Authority must be involved in any canal project that could potentially divert fresh water resources to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.