Rep. William Fitts Ryan, New York Democrat, introduced today a bill to finance a nuclear desalination plant in Israel, stating that the United States should give this undertaking “top priority.” He recalled that President Johnson proposed cooperation with Israel on nuclear desalting in February, 1964, and noted that feasibility studies were conducted, and said that financing at low interest rates was now required.
The Ryan bill would authorize the United States to share construction costs through either loan or grant assistance to reduce the cost of water to a level which would make it economically usable for agricultural and industrial purposes. It would also authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter necessary agreements with Israel.
The proposed plant would produce 100 to 150 million gallons of fresh water, and 300,000 to 400,000 kilowatts of electricity daily. In Rep. Ryan’s view, the plant would be a major contribution to stability in the Middle East, and allow Israel to continue growth and development. This, he said, “would serve as an example to the Arabs of what can be done in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
