Energy Minister Yitzhak Berman announced today that Israel intends to proceed with its plan to build a canal between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea despite a vote Monday in the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Political Committee requesting Israel to stop all moves to build the canal.
The vote on the Arab-sponsored resolution was 114-2with three abstentions. Israel and the United States cast the two negative votes. The Arabs contended that Israel, as an occupying power is not permitted by international law to change the physical nature of the territory it holds. Part of the canal is to be built on territory captured by Israel in the Six-Day War.
Berman said today that Israel was willing to discuss the project with Jordan which has objected to the construction of the canal. However, Berman said, Israel would pursue the project even if Jordan declines to cooperate with Israel. He pledged that Jordan’s facilities at the Dead Sea would not be damaged.
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