Could earth cleared out to make room for a canal in the Negev be used to build an artificial island off the coast of Tel Aviv? If so, the Land of Israel may be undergoing a major face-lift in the coming decades.
For one thing, the Transportation, Infrastructures and Interior Ministries have embarked on the initial stages of project to move the large Pi Gelilot fuel facility to a not-yet-built offshore artificial island. The Interior Ministry publicized yesterday a request for proposals for a document outlining the ramifications of such a move. The proposals must be submitted within four months by persons or groups with at least five years' experience in structural planning. The document must detail the conditions for moving the facility to the island, what needs will have to be met, the ramifications of storing different types of fuel in proximity to teach other, and the general feasibility of the project.
The government decided last year to close the Pi Gelilot site and relocate the fuel facility elsewhere. The decision was made following two failed terrorist attempts to blow up Pi Gelilot in May and August 2002, which could have caused thousands of casualties. Infrastructures Minister Yosef Paritzky has said that he wants to relocate the facility on an artificial island - but the Cabinet has yet to approve the use of such an island for this purpose.
Another geographical change under consideration in government circles is the construction of a canal from the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Ashkelon, to the Red Sea port of Eilat. Israel's economic attache in Taiwan, Danny Tal, heads a group that has sent a detailed proposal to the Finance and Infrastructures Ministers - and Netanyahu is said to have shown interest, contingent upon similar interest by foreign investors. The 300-long canal would present a competitive alternative to Egypt's Suez Canal, which cannot accept two-way traffic along its entire route and cannot accept tankers wider than 53 meters. Despite optimistic projections for growing maritime traffic between Europe and Asia, pessimists say that Egypt will never agree to an end to its monopoly on canal traffic.
For one thing, the Transportation, Infrastructures and Interior Ministries have embarked on the initial stages of project to move the large Pi Gelilot fuel facility to a not-yet-built offshore artificial island. The Interior Ministry publicized yesterday a request for proposals for a document outlining the ramifications of such a move. The proposals must be submitted within four months by persons or groups with at least five years' experience in structural planning. The document must detail the conditions for moving the facility to the island, what needs will have to be met, the ramifications of storing different types of fuel in proximity to teach other, and the general feasibility of the project.
The government decided last year to close the Pi Gelilot site and relocate the fuel facility elsewhere. The decision was made following two failed terrorist attempts to blow up Pi Gelilot in May and August 2002, which could have caused thousands of casualties. Infrastructures Minister Yosef Paritzky has said that he wants to relocate the facility on an artificial island - but the Cabinet has yet to approve the use of such an island for this purpose.
Another geographical change under consideration in government circles is the construction of a canal from the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Ashkelon, to the Red Sea port of Eilat. Israel's economic attache in Taiwan, Danny Tal, heads a group that has sent a detailed proposal to the Finance and Infrastructures Ministers - and Netanyahu is said to have shown interest, contingent upon similar interest by foreign investors. The 300-long canal would present a competitive alternative to Egypt's Suez Canal, which cannot accept two-way traffic along its entire route and cannot accept tankers wider than 53 meters. Despite optimistic projections for growing maritime traffic between Europe and Asia, pessimists say that Egypt will never agree to an end to its monopoly on canal traffic.