The United States and Israel this weekend signed an agreement providing for a detailed study of the feasibility of implementing in Israel a program for the use of nuclear energy for desalination of sea water.
The agreement, hailed by President Johnson as “a second step toward the solution of Israel’s critical water needs,” was signed on the American side by Dr. Glen Seaborg, chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and Kenneth Holum, Acting Secretary of the Interior, Gen. Zvi Tsur, coordinator of the water desalination program for the office of the Prime Minister of Israel, signed on behalf of his Government. The agreement, according to a State Department communique, provides for:
“1. An invitation for proposals for the undertaking of a detailed feasibility study by a consulting engineering firm issued promptly by the Governments; 2. That, based upon review of the proposals, and interviews, if necessary, an engineer be selected and appropriate contracts acceptable to both Governments be executed; 3. That the cost of the engineering study be shared by the two Governments; 4. That a joint board, consisting of an equal number of representatives from each of the Governments (with a representative of the International Atomic Energy as an observer) be appointed to prepare the invitation, make recommendations for selection of the engineer and the terms of the contract, and to perform such other functions in relation to the engineering contract as will later be defined by the Governments, and to make recommendations to the two Governments.”
Upon conclusion of the agreement, President Johnson issued the following statement:
“I am pleased to announce that the Governments of the United States and Israel have agreed to a second step toward the solution of Israel’s critical water needs. The first step was taken last June, when Prime Minister Eshkol and I established a joint United States-Israel study team to conduct technical services. These have already been completed.
“Now we have agreed that our Governments will share equally in the costs of a detailed engineering study for a large water desalting project to meet Israel’s present demands for more fresh water. Both Governments will promptly issue invitations to American engineering consulting firms to participate in the second step. A joint board, with each Government equally represented, will assist in making the selection and will oversee the effort.”
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