Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

British and Jewish Quarters in Palestine Deny Existence of Plan to Build Huge Canal

February 8, 1945
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

British and Jewish authoritative quarters today told the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here that there is no truth in the report published yesterday by the London Daily Sketch that the British Government is planning to dig a canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea through Palestine.

Experts here ridiculed such a plan pointing out that such a canal would wash out the immense mineral treasures of the Dead Sea, They also pointed out that it would inevitably result in inundation of the Jordan Valley and Lake Galilee, both of which are of the highest religious and agricultural value.

Digging a canal through Palestine would cost about $1,500,000,000, an amount which neither the British Government, nor the Palestine Government, nor the Jewish Agency, nor anybody else is ready to invest, it was pointed out here. The only rational sound plan along these lines is the one advanced by Walter G. Lowdermilk, U.S. Government expert, but even realization of the Lowdermilk plan is far in the future, it was emphasized.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement