BANGURION
CANAL – GEOGRAPHY
News: A plan to join the Red Sea with
Mediterranean — an alternative to the Suez Canal
What's
in the news?
●
Recently, there has been renewed interest
in the Ben Gurion Canal Project, a proposed 160-mile-long sea-level canal that
would connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Aqaba, bypassing the Suez
Canal.
Ben
Gurion Canal Project:
●
The Ben Gurion Canal Project or Israeli
Canal is a proposed canal project through the state of Israel.
●
It
would connect the Gulf of Aqaba to the
Mediterranean Sea.
●
David
Ben Gurion, for whom it would be named, is considered the Founding Father of Israel and was the first Prime Minister of Israel.
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The canal would rival the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal which runs through Egypt and
has had many disturbances in its history, such as the Israeli blockage through
the Suez Canal and Straits of Tiran, the Closure of the Suez Canal (1956–1957),
Closure of the Suez Canal (1967–1975), and the 2021 Suez Canal obstruction.
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It would be almost one-third longer than the 193.3 km Suez Canal, at around 292.9 km.
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Originating in the 1960s, the Ben Gurion
Canal Project was conceptualized as a transformative infrastructure initiative.
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Strategic
Objective:
○
Aims to create an alternative maritime
route connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, bypassing the Suez Canal.
○
Envisions reshaping global maritime
dynamics by challenging Egypt's monopoly on the shortest Europe-Asia route.
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Gulf
of Aqaba to Mediterranean Coast:
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Proposes cutting a canal through the Negev
Desert (Israel), starting from the Gulf of Aqaba (eastern arm of the Red Sea).
○
Extends to the Eastern Mediterranean
coast, providing an alternative trade route.
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The Gulf of Aqaba has a coastline shared
by four countries: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
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Economic
Implications:
○
Speculations suggest that Israel's desire
to control Gaza and eliminate Hamas is linked to unlocking economic
opportunities tied to the canal.
○
If completed, the Ben Gurion Canal Project
would have a significant impact on global trade and geopolitics. It would
create a new shipping route between Europe and Asia, bypassing the Suez Canal
and reducing Egypt's control over global shipping.
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Challenges
and Viability:
○
Gigantic logistical, political, and
funding challenges pose substantial obstacles.
○
High complexity and prohibitive costs
estimated to be as much as USD 100 billion.
○
The imperative of political stability and
the constant military threat as significant security concerns.
○
Another challenge is the security
situation in the region. The Gaza Strip is a potential security threat, and any
canal would need to be protected from attack.