A Chinese train to Eilat and a Yamim Canal with Jordan, the Arava will become a dump
I read in the media that an agreement is being implemented with the Chinese to build the railway to Eilat.
I have no experience and knowledge in building infrastructure, but I have seen the activities of the Chinese in Africa. In every project we built, corruption and bribery were involved and in most cases the result is: roads and infrastructure that by the time you reach the end it is necessary to go back and fix the beginning. Projects that fall apart after a year and require constant maintenance. The surroundings of the work sites and residential camps became "shaved" and bare of any sign of life or nature, instead of trees, bushes, grassy plains and roadsides became.... landfills
It is appropriate and correct that the decision makers study the results of the Chinese activities in Africa and accordingly create a mechanism that will closely monitor their activities to prevent damage. There is no doubt that there is a need and importance for a train that will connect Eilat to the center of the country. It is equally clear that the laying of the track must be done without environmental damage and in a way that will be sustainable from the economic point of view as well.
As part of the steps to privatize the port of Eilat, there is another push for a "canal port": the digging of a canal adjacent to the border with Jordan, about 6 km long, which will serve as the moorings of the commercial port and clear the beaches for tourist use. It is worthwhile and appropriate that those who come up with such a plan should remember that: adjacent to the Jordanian border there are magnificent agricultural fields of Kibbutz Eilot, next to them is one of the most important birdwatching centers in the world, near the beach there is the only wild beach in Eilat (still). But all these are trifles since it is clear that on the face of it the plan is "logical and correct", as The plan was to build an airport in front of Timna.
Logical and correct if you ignore the fact that in front of the Eilat beaches, a stone's throw away, there is a seaport in Aqaba. Also, at a land distance of 10 km from Eilat, there is an international airport with a long and good runway. But neither the airport nor the port in Aqaba can be shared with Israel. It is not possible to reach agreements with the Jordanians on sharing the costs of the development and use of ports, roads and other infrastructures, because for the purpose of such agreements, peace with the neighbors is necessary, while we do not have peace agreements with the neighbors to the east... do we?
Since our decision-makers have already realized that there is "no" possibility to cooperate in infrastructure projects with the Jordanians, leaders and entrepreneurs have realized that it is impossible to achieve joint use of sea and air ports. I wonder how exactly the Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee thinks about establishing a "pilot" for the sea canal?
I will make it clear that those who see contradictions and illogicality in the scriptures are right, except that the logic of the leaders, decision makers, entrepreneurs and the like who deal with the issue is probably not the same as mine or ours. According to the publications originating from the minister's office: "The World Bank has finished the feasibility study and announced that there is a place to establish the "pilot" since the sea canal project can be economic and environmental" right?
It turns out that also according to what is written on the website of the water authority: because of the size of the project and the environmental dangers that are not clear, the bank recommends a "pilot". To the Minister's knowledge, a recommendation for a "pilot" is not the end of the feasibility study, nor is it a positive conclusion that the project will be economical and will not harm the environment. (Reading Comprehension?)
I saw the "happy" publications and hurried to check the results of the feasibility study. Despite a thorough search on the World Bank website, I did not find the final results of the survey in question. After four years of surveys and studies and after spending about 20 million dollars, there is no unequivocal opinion on the feasibility of the project
(Maybe there is, but in the tangle of documents I couldn't find a clear opinion). There is a breakdown of costs, there is a breakdown of energy consumption, a breakdown of the amounts of water that will be pumped, desalinated and discharged into the Dead Sea, and there is a breakdown of the chemical components of the liquids in the various stages.
I read the bank's announcement about the start of the survey and detailing its goals. I found a reference to the need to review archaeological sites along the route, as well as a paragraph that mentions the need to check environmental and social consequences. There is also reference to the price of the project (about 10 billion dollars) and an assumption that it will take about 20 years to complete it. I found interim surveys from previous years, I did not find a recent survey and final results, and again I did not see opinions on the economic or environmental or social feasibility.
The newest documents on the subject that I found were a report on the meeting of Minister Shalom with the heads of the bank in February 2012 and a joint meeting on June 15. on the bank's website Those who want to read the final report are directed to the documents from six months ago. Interesting and important surveys and studies on many different subjects produced since the beginning of the feasibility study, without final conclusions and without practical recommendations. I contacted the relevant ministerial offices and asked to see even just a summary of the survey's recommendations. I contacted the email that appears on the website that is supposed to provide information dlautenbach@worldbank.org and I did not receive the requested report.
Are the summaries of the feasibility survey and the recommendations of the World Bank for the project "The Peace Leader" classified or secret? It turns out that the answer is much simpler: very simply, the report has not been written yet because the survey has not been completed. I finally found the "answer" On the Water Authority website It contains the "final" report, which is not final because after the explanations about the levels of damage to the chemistry of the Dead Sea according to the quantities of water that will be flowed, it is explicitly stated that additional tests are needed.
There is (I have not seen) any reference to the future damage to the Gulf of Eilat, (interesting because there is no [or I did not find] a corresponding document on the World Bank website) in the only and latest reference I found of The World Bank It is written that "nothing is decided in this ambitious and controversial concept."
Later, the director of the survey repeats and emphasizes that "due to the seriousness of the problem, the bank supports the continuation of the investigation" I could have continued to quote and translate, but due to the publications originating from Minister Shalom's office and after reading the document, I thought that maybe I am not good enough at understanding what is being read. That is why I invite the readers to read the document and help me understand where the Minister of Development gets the news that "the World Bank approved the environmental and economic feasibility of the project"?
Hidden among all the surveys is the sentence that it is worthwhile to check alternatives "including a Study of Alternatives". I searched and found that while the teams for the various surveys include many experts, the alternatives team has a Jordanian engineer, an Israeli professor of agriculture, and a Briton who is considered an "expert" on the Middle East. Of course, I did not find a continuation, that is, there is no report or information on the examination of alternatives, even though it is clear to everyone and there is no doubt that the correct alternative in terms of costs and from an environmental point of view is: transporting water from the Mediterranean Sea. https://www.hayadan.org.il/1108093/ But it turns out that because of fear of international interference in Israel's "water affairs", because of political objections from the neighbors, because of mysterious politics that there is nothing between reason and actual feasibility, in short because of politics For those who can't see further than the end of their nose - the end of their job - the logical alternative (Mediterranean Dead Sea) is rejected outright and only the more expensive and dangerous alternative is tested.
When I previously wrote about the Sea Canal
I argued that the voice of the Society for the Protection of Nature was not being heard and I replied that "we are waiting for the data and the results of the feasibility studies". Now there is partial data, so it is hoped that the green bodies will help Oz and intervene in the planning of the project to prevent a disaster.
After all and despite what has been written, it is possible that in the end, due to lack of choice, it will be right to embark on a joint venture with Jordan, since the right alternative (shipped from the Mediterranean Sea) will not have international support and therefore will also not have funding. In Jordan, "votes" are being made for "we will go (alone) to carry out the Saudi-financed lead". Since according to the interim report the entire project will be built on the slopes of the Adom Mountains - on the Jordanian side, it must be assumed that this will neutralize the "development" plans in the Arava, that is, once again the lesser evil.
It is possible that the least bad choice would be to embark on a joint implementation in order to prevent a project that would be without proper environmental supervision, and then the Minister of Peace would be able to sign up for himself a significant part in the implementation of the "Leader of Peace" which would be an achievement whose effects would be greater than drying up the patient. hallelujah?
19 תגובות
Dr. Rosenthal, you are a Sinophobe and completely disconnected from reality
1. The projects that the Chinese and the quality of the work they provide is amazing. You should visit China just to see what they did in Begin for the Olympics. Just a small example. They built 6 new highways, something that in Israel would have taken about 200 years. The railway system in China is of high quality and punctual, and the cars and infrastructure are a generation old compared to the situation in Israel and most of Europe. To remind you, Europe is not only England, Germany and France.
2. It is true that we have peace agreements with Jordan and also with the Egyptians... Do you need me to detail what is happening with the Egyptians or not?? I think so, but it's hard for me to get down to that level. The only surprise is that you didn't propose that we build an airport together with Syria in Kunitra and I really don't understand why you didn't do it.
3. The Sea Canal project is perhaps the most important interest for the State of Israel. I agree that it is better to really carry out the Mediterranean option, but for strategic reasons not to depend on peace agreements with the Jordanians (Palestine) who are without a doubt the next civil war after the Syrians. Since before the establishment of the state, they have been thinking about the idea of the sea canal and none of you opponents have proven unequivocally that the project will harm the environment. You, along with the other opponents, stand and whine that it is dangerous, but you don't have an unequivocal wait and thus cause a waste of time. The sea canal would have reduced the need to use gas which would only strengthen the tycoons and lead to the danger of enormous environmental damage to the sea. Let's not talk about the defense expenses that will offset the profits
If the State of Israel can only rely on itself, why does it privatize the gas? Why doesn't she grow wheat? Why does it allow the transfer of state assets into the private hands of tycoons?
You mean like the reliability of the Egyptian gas? No thanks. Tomorrow the king of Jordan will fall and what then? The Middle East is not Europe! Israel can only rely on itself. The time has come for the disillusionment of the sleeping left.
A railroad is a logical project, as the writer says, supervision is needed so that they do not harm the environment.
I don't care who will kill the Chinese or the Americans, only that our industry will also get some crumbs..
The train's route will become the new Gush Dan, with a city of tens of thousands developing around each station.
Port in Eilat and Canal of Days - an unnecessary, megalomaniacal project, waste of money and destruction of natural values useless to the public.
Regarding use of the airport and port in Aqaba:
1. Who exactly will entrust strategic facilities to an Arab country, even if a peace agreement is signed with it? The last time this happened was with the flow of gas from Egypt and we all know very well how it ended.
2. Such a facility (airport or port) generates thousands of jobs. Assuming we don't see thousands of Eilatites crossing the border every morning to work in Aqaba and returning in the evening - this means a loss of jobs that could have been in Israel and given to Jordanians.
3. Can Israel trust Jordan regarding a security inspection of the containers in the port of Aqaba? probably not. In other words, either they will have to check the cargo again upon entering Israel or they will have to somehow let Israeli security personnel into the port of Aqaba, something the Jordanians will probably not agree to.
Regarding the Canal of the Seas:
An unnecessary project that has no chance of being implemented. It is not clear what the economic gain will be and the potential damage can be enormous. If the goal is to save the Dead Sea, let them pour more water onto the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, stop the pumping from the Sea of Galilee, open the Degania Dam and return the southern Jordan to its natural state as the main water supplier to the Dead Sea. What is the point in desalination to the shores of the Red Sea, the discharge of the water to the Dead Sea and at the same time pumping water from the Sea of Galilee and its discharge to the coastal plain - when it is possible to desalinate water near the population centers? It is not clear. Regarding electricity production, the potential is for the production of up to 300 megawatts, less than 3% of the country's electricity consumption. In other words - nothing.
Regarding the involvement of the Chinese:
In Africa, all international companies behave negligently because there is no law and justice, and it is cheaper to damage the environment than to preserve it. Besides, it is not at all certain that the local governments are interested in paying construction companies additional sums to protect the environment. In any case, the involvement of the Chinese in the project is still not closed at any level - they are currently looking at how to establish it. In the meantime, a Chinese company had already managed to build the Carmel tunnels and the result caused the state to partner with the same company in the construction of the train to Carmel.
Apparently the cynicism has no end, the Greens also stopped all kinds of projects of developing power stations and look where we have come today, there is a lack of ability to supply electricity and there have already been self-initiated outages in Israel
The train to Eilat is a welcome thing that will allow people with little ability and in general all citizens of the country to reach the southern cities comfortably and quickly and this will also help in the development of the Negev so don't put sticks in the wheels of the country's development
In his run for mayor of Tel Aviv, many were carried away by the idea of stopping high-rise construction. To remind you, he received 36% in these elections.
So maybe you should make sure that these and these and these don't go together.
Because until now all the opponents, wherever they are, unite in favor of the opposite.
Ori:
"After all, the result of responding to the brains is usurping the place of another mole."
Why do you think so?
The rich are sucking the earth.
The poor generally require minimal living conditions.
Instead of one villa, dozens of public housing apartments can be built.
The destruction of nature carried out by the tycoons is infinitely greater than the destruction carried out by the poor!
Doc
About 11 million residents (not 8) live in Israel and the territories today. The number of residents will exceed 20 million by 2050 and will possibly exceed 30 million by 2100. Jordan will also probably rise to at least 10 million by the end of 2100, unless the Palestinians destroy it like the Arabs know how to do.
The main limitation in Israel regarding the number of inhabitants is drinking water (there is nothing to talk about in terms of agriculture, the amount of rainfall in Israel is not enough for significant crops from rainwater, including the water of the Sea of Galilee).
We are in the process of switching to desalinated water. In less than 10 years we will probably be the most advanced country in the production of desalinated drinking water. In about 5 years (I don't remember the number) 25 percent of the drinking water in Israel will be desalinated.
If Syria and Lebanon break up, maybe we can buy drinking water from Syria and Lebanon. All the hatred for Israel by the surrounding Arabs is a ploy by rulers who want to justify their tyranny.
Why will Israel become a country of 30 million people by the end of 2100, because the Arab countries around us are lagging behind and there is no sign that this situation will improve. All the Arabs around us will make an effort to infiltrate Israel to enjoy its advanced pollution.
If we manage our actions correctly, by the year 2100 we will be able to convert millions of Arabs and remove them from the Arab society hostile to Israel.
As for the natural animals of Israel. Let them go live in other places. We will leave in Israel only dogs, cats, pigeons and crows. We don't need more wild animals.
And in all this they think that the grasshopper precedes that person.
So why don't they rise up against the social protest?
After all, the result of responding to the brains is usurping the place of another mole.
There is no argument that it would have been better for him if the city of Eilat had not existed.
On second thought, he would have preferred Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva, not to mention the rural settlements that consume land resources and transportation infrastructure, they all didn't exist either.
It would be better - at least from the point of view of primordial nature - if the country had a small group of several thousand hunter-gatherers, living in harmony with nature.
Such a scenario is not on the agenda, apparently. Today, around eight million people live in Israel and the territories, fighting each other for territory, sovereignty and resources.
This situation is not expected to change, and therefore it is appropriate for environmentalists to update their vision:
- instead of preventing development - managing its sustainability
- instead we will focus on development and progress - their acceptance as a reality necessity for individuals trying to improve their lives
There is still a lot to do, even given this reality.
I believe that even in the test of the result, environmentalists will benefit if they focus their efforts in this direction.
The difference between the projects in Africa and those in Israel is that the projects are in Africa
serving the elites and the mining and oil extraction enterprises of the Chinese themselves and should not
A rule to serve the population or take it into account. That's why they also look the way they do.
As far as I know, in the end, at least as far as foreign relations are concerned, the Chinese stand
At their word and responsible for their signature no less than any western company. This is why a tunnel project
The Carmel was completed ahead of time and without environmental hazards.
Did the Chinese also build in Western countries?
For comparison, have you checked the infrastructure they are building in China?
What are the chances that they will make the right decision? When interpersonal, political, international, personal considerations are mixed in the decision and so on and so forth.. or in short - human nature, you know?!
People without inner integrity will not understand what I meant (at least 70% of people)
The green religious are always against progress.
I also saw the work of the Chinese in Africa, during two years of living there, and I must tell you that it has much more to do with the Africans and the business culture there than with the Chinese. The Chinese can build a project for billions of dollars, which will not fall short of Japanese quality, and can sell you exactly the same project for a fraction of the price - but don't expect quality at all. And that's exactly what happens in Africa - the governments there take 80% of the money for bribes of this and that, of the funding they receive, and only 20% is left for work, so the Chinese win the tender and that's the quality you see.
Maybe the content is interesting but who has the strength to read endless cynicism
A Chinese company dug the Carmel tunnels. Worked fast and well and finished ahead of time.
The Chinese are scheming in Africa because they can. African culture allows it and the Chinese don't count them from a meter.
In short, we need to catch them short and make sure that the Israelis who are responsible for them don't get vilified themselves
Let them first of all do to Kiryat Shmona, this place is abandoned every day by a young population.
Amazing place with wide potential.