Israel (and previously other powers) has indeed studied the idea of digging a canal that would link the Red Sea (via the Gulf of Aqaba) to the Mediterranean Sea, possibly through the Dead Sea region. Here’s the situation:
1. The Geography
- Suez Canal (in Egypt) already connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, so another canal in Israel would essentially be an alternative route.
- The Dead Sea sits about 430 meters below sea level, the lowest point on Earth. That makes it not a simple flat canal project — you’d need massive engineering works, tunnels, or pumping systems.
2. Historical Proposals
- In the 1970s–80s, Israel considered the idea of a “Med–Dead” canal (Mediterranean → Dead Sea) and a “Red–Dead” canal (Red Sea → Dead Sea).
- The main purpose was not shipping, but hydropower (using the difference in elevation to generate electricity) and refilling the shrinking Dead Sea with seawater.
- The Red–Dead project was even taken up jointly with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority with World Bank involvement, but it faced environmental, financial, and political hurdles.
3. Engineering & Feasibility
- A full canal for ships, like the Suez, is practically impossible through the Dead Sea. The extreme elevation drop and geology would require enormous locks, tunnels, and constant pumping.
- A water conveyance system (pipelines, tunnels, or small channels) is technically feasible, but only for water transfer or energy projects — not for international shipping.
4. Strategic & Political Factors
- Egypt strongly opposes the idea of a competing shipping canal (as Suez is a huge part of its economy).
- Jordan and Palestine have stakes in the Dead Sea’s future, so regional cooperation would be required.
- Environmental groups warn that mixing Red Sea water with Dead Sea brine could damage ecosystems and cause chemical reactions (like gypsum precipitation).