Israeli President Shimon Peres' "Peace Valley" project is being opposed by scientists and environmentalists over fears that it could cause further damage to the ecology of the Dead Sea region. Israel, Jordan and Syria divert approximately 95% of the water from the Jordan river for irrigation, and this decreased flow coupled with natural evaporation is causing the water level of the Dead Sea to drop by around one metre a year. Experts warn that the sea could completely dry up within fifty years unless something is done. Hotels that were built on what was once the shore line of the Dead Sea are now over 2000 feet from the water's edge. During the 1980s Israel came up with a plan to build a canal linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. The government had the money to build it, but before the canal could be dug the Israeli economy took a downturn and the plan was shelved. As part of his "Peace Valley" plan, Shimon Peres has now suggested that Israel dig a canal from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba. The project would also involve the development of industrial and tourist projects along the banks of the Jordan, and would boost economic cooperation between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. But scientists fear that the benefits of such a canal system may be outweighed by the possible threat to wildlife and farming should the experiment fail...

Quote: ""For the Arava Valley," he said, "the threat emanates from possible earthquakes which could cause a break in the canal and flood the valley with seawater, destroying agriculture and polluting the groundwater used by Israel and Jordan." "The most serious problem, about which very little is known," said Lipchin, "is the mixing of the waters - the Dead Sea with the Red Sea. This is what is unique to the project and has never before been attempted. We simply cannot predict what the outcome will be," he said.

The World Bank is beginning a two year feasibility study into Peres' Peace Valley plan. Around a dozen international companies will be working on the project, which is expected to cost up to $2-4 billion to complete.

Quote: "AMMAN - A feasibility and environmental assessment study on the Red-Dead Canal project seeking to top up the degrading Dead Sea is set to start early December, a top water official said on Tuesday. "We are done with the shortlisting of companies bidding to conduct the feasibility and environmental assessment study. These companies have been provided with the plan's terms of reference and by September, they should provide us with financial and technical offers," Jordan Valley Authority Secretary General Musa Jamaini told The Jordan Times yesterday.

The Great Rift Valley faultline runs through part of the Dead Sea region and the Mount of Olives. A major earthquake has struck the Dead Sea Basin roughly every 100 years, and seismologists believe that the next big earthquake is overdue. They have warned that Israel is not prepared to deal with the aftermath of such an event, which could leave up to 16,000 dead and thousands more homeless. I find it interesting that the scientists fear that an earthquake could spell the end of the Dead Sea Canal project. There are a few earthquakes that the Bible predicts will happen in Israel before the coming of the Lord to the earth. Ezekiel 47 and Zechariah 14 seem to indicate that the earthquake that will occur as Christ's feet touch the Mount of Olives will not spell the end of the Dead Sea Canal project, rather it will complete it in just a few minutes. For the Mount of Olives will split in two, half of the mountain will move to the north and half towards the south. This earthquake activity causes an underground reservoir to burst, and streams of water will issue out of Jerusalem and heal the waters of the Dead Sea.

Ezekiel 47:8-10
Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

What men don't understand is that the Dead Sea region was cursed by God. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown by the Lord because of their pride and sexual immorality. They are described in Genesis as "cities of the plain", but following their judgement of fire and brimstone which rained down on them out of heaven, the plain became the lowest dry point on the face of the planet. The very ground was cursed because of their wickedness, and today nothing grows in the region due to its high salinity.

Genesis 19:24-25
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Men cannot reverse the curse of God. To try and build a canal from the Dead Sea to anywhere on earth is a hopeless endeavour, for those waters will not be healed until the Lord comes. Throughout history men have tried to go against the will of God, thinking they can make it on their own. But the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Without me ye can do nothing", John 15:5. You cannot make it on your own. Even our best efforts are counted as sin in God's eyes (Isaiah 64:6). The end times are approaching, and unless you could attain the righteousness of God you will not make heaven, for the Bible states that no sin can ever enter there (Revelation 21:27). The Bible states that by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, we can attain the righteousness of God. When we are cleansed from our sins by His precious blood, God sees us covered by the righteousness of Christ. He is our righteousness. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 46:12-13
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Source Arutz 7, Menafn, Abba's Watchman