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Huge water project would unite Israel, Turkey and Jordan

JERUSALEM -- Israel, Jordan and Turkey plan to launch a huge water project that will join the three countries in a strategic alliance.

Officials said the project being discussed is that of a water project that will link the three countries. They said the project is based on shipping Turkish water to Israel and Jordan. From Israel, the water will be piped to Jordan.

A key Israeli parliamentarian said Jordan's King Abdullah will next month sign an agreement for the shipping of 90 million cubic meters of water annually from Turkey's Managavat river. Likud parliamentarian Sylvan Shalom, a key member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said Israel, Turkey and Jordan are now exploring options for the transportation of the water.

"This project will increase cooperation between the three countries because it won't be based only on military issues," Shalom told a seminar of the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, Jerusalem. "Right now, Jordan is afraid to expose its relations with Israel and Turkey because they're limited [to defense issues]."

Shalom said the most likely option is for Turkey to ship the water to the Israeli port of Haifa. From there, the water will be sent by pipeline to the Jordan Valley and to the Hashemite kingdom. He said Jordan has rejected a proposal for Israel to supply water from the Sea of Galilee because of its increasingly poor quality.

Another option that appears too expensive is the shipping of water from Turkey to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Officials confirmed the discussions between the three countries. They said Turkish water is now being seen by both Israel and Jordan as vital to overcome the current drought.

U.S. officials are said to be encouraging the alliance efforts. "Turkey's relations with Israel are flourishing," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Marc Grossman said. "We support the closest possible ties between our two allies. This is a relationship aimed at no one, with the potential to benefit everyone."