10- A Libyan government delegation recently arrived in Turkey for discussions on the import of 100 million cubic meters of water annually to the North African country. Sources in the Turkish Energy Ministry say if an agreement is reached on the export of Turkish water to Libya, it will preclude the possibility of exporting water at the same time to Israel. According to reports, Libya is planning to buy large quantities of water from the project set up by the Turks on the Manavgat River. Over the past decade, Turkish companies and businessmen have invested some $150 million in the project which has so far not been put into operation. The governments of the two countries were due to jointly seek shipping companies that could transport the water to Israel. The Water Authority is believed to be in favour of importing water from Turkey, as a supplementary measure to water desalination, despite the high cost involved. However, the Finance Ministry is said to be opposed since the price of imported water would be about 80 cents per cubic meter, as opposed to 50 cents for desalinated water. A Foreign Ministry official in Jerusalem said the two sides had made headway in the negotiations and were currently working on two contracts, one between the governments and the other with the water carrier. Further information on EMWIS website.

Perhaps this will put the final nail in the coffin of a somewhat unrealistic idea; importing water from Turkey by tanker. Israel can then focus its attention on the realistic and the achievable; a massive investment in desalination (coupled, of course with my Med-Kinneret Canal proposal!).