The Science and Politics of the Dead Sea: Red Sea Canal or Pipeline

Abstract

The decline in the level of the Dead Sea is generating considerable media, government, and NGO attention. Constructing a pipeline to link the Red Sea to the Dead Sea is one in a series of proposals to solve the problem. The needs and urgency of this project are investigated here. A comparison between scientific journals and mass media in terms of quality and emphasis in covering the problem is conducted. It is shown that the scientific community agrees unanimously that the Dead Sea will not dry up, and a pipeline can restore the level of the Dead Sea, although not its previous water characteristics. A solution is certainly required, but more research is needed, and there is no immediate urgency to act. The media attitude of exaggerating the scale of the problem and urgency to act is not based on any credible scientific facts and is mainly politically motivated.