In recent times, the Ben Gurion Canal Project has attracted renewed interest. This proposed 160-mile-long sea-level canal hopes to create a maritime link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba by sidestepping the Suez Canal.
The Ben Gurion Canal Project: An Overview and Its Historical Roots
Conceptualized in the 1960s, the Ben Gurion Canal Project was envisioned as a game-changing infrastructure development. It was named after the founding father of Israel, David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), indicating its historical significance.
Strategic Objectives of the Ben Gurion Canal Project
The primary aim of this project is to establish an alternate maritime pathway linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, effectively bypassing Egypt’s Suez Canal. It proposes to challenge Egypt’s monopoly over the quickest Europe-Asia route, thereby reshaping global maritime dynamics.
The Route: From the Gulf of Aqaba to the Mediterranean Coast
The proposed canal would be cut through the Negev Desert in Israel, starting from the Gulf of Aqaba, which is an eastern arm of the Red Sea. It would extend to the Eastern Mediterranean coast, paving the way for an alternate trade route. The Gulf of Aqaba shares its coastline with four countries – Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Economic Implications of the Ben Gurion Canal Project
There are conjectures that Israel’s ambition to control Gaza and eliminate Hamas is tied to the economic prospects linked to the canal. If realized, the Ben Gurion Canal Project would significantly influence global trade and geopolitics by introducing a new shipping route between Europe and Asia that doesn’t rely on the Suez Canal, thereby diminishing Egypt’s dominance over worldwide shipping.
Challenges and Viability of the Ben Gurion Canal Project
The project faces enormous logistical, political, and funding challenges – with the complexity of the tasks and prohibitive costs estimated to reach up to USD 100 billion. The necessities for political stability and the constant military threat also serve as significant security concerns. The region’s security scenario, particularly in the Gaza Strip, poses an additional set of obstacles that need to be addressed.
About the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, is a man-made waterway that runs north to south across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. This provides a shorter route for shipping between Europe and Asia, separating the African continent from Asia. The canal was initially under British and French control but was nationalized by Egypt in 1956. In 2021, the canal earned a record-breaking USD 9.4 billion for Egypt, accounting for nearly 2% of its GDP. The canal plays a crucial role in facilitating India’s access to European, African, and Middle Eastern markets and is pivotal to the smooth flow of energy supplies from Gulf countries to India. It also aids in exporting Indian products, such as textiles, chemicals, and agricultural goods, to global markets.
Questionnaires from UPSC Civil Services Examination
The Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries? Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 3, and 4 only. Ans: (c).
Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (a) Syria (b) Jordan (c) Lebanon (d) Israel. Ans: (b).
