Tourism Ministry official: Dead Sea hotels will flood

Yaron Ergaz warns of a billion-dollar clean-up bill.

Ministry of Tourism director of tourism planning Yaron Ergaz yesterday warned the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, “Within two years, six hotels in southern Dead Sea area will be flooded, and evacuating them will cost NIS 1 billion.” He added that the government was not in compliance with a binding High Court of Justice ruling on this matter.

The Dead Sea suffers from two types of problems. The northern basin is suffering from a sharp fall in its water level, while the level in the southern basin is rising because of operations by Dead Sea Works. Two months ago, the cabinet ordered the Israel Chemicals Ltd. (TASE: CHIM) subsidiary and various ministries to finance treatment of the southern Dead Sea Basin.

The World Bank is currently discussing alternatives for saving the northern Dead Sea basin. One solution under consideration is the Red-Dead Sea canal. There are many opponents to this solution who warn that an influx of seawater to the Dead Sea could result in different water layers, which would destroy the sea.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 18, 2007

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007

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