The Ben Gurion Canal project

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Historical Context: Ben Gurion Canal Project
This ambitious project aims to chart a course from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, echoing the historic initiatives such as the Suez Canal, which has long been a pivotal maritime route since its completion in the 19th century. The proposed Ben Gurion Canal not only signals Israel’s aspirations to claim a stake in global trade dynamics but also reflects the ongoing quest to expand its geopolitical influence, a narrative that has been part of the region’s history since Israel’s establishment in 1948.

 

[Kizaru]

whats the point? The suez canal is closer to africa, asia and europe. Why create a new one that no one will use. I thought zionists were all about money

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

whats the point? The suez canal is closer to africa, asia and europe. Why create a new one that no one will use. I thought zionists were all about money

It is of two-fold:
a) Politically, it fits in with !srael's strategic positioning in the region, where reliance upon Suez canal is problematic.

When all land trade routes were blocked by Arab states, Israel's ability to trade with East Africa and Asia, mainly to import oil from the Persian Gulf, was also severely hampered. The closure of the canal was also a significant and unexpected shock to world trade and disrupted global commerce.

b) Economic gains:
The Suez Canal has been critical in driving Egypt’s economy forward. It earns revenues through tolls and transit fees collected from vessels that pass through the canal.
In 2021, some 20,649 vessels flowed through the Suez Canal - an increase of 10 percent over 2020. In 2022, annual revenue stood at $8 billion in transit fees. The Suez Canal set a new record with an annual revenue of $9.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended 30 June 2023.

What is Israel's Ben Gurion canal plan and why Gaza matters

As Israel intensifies its Gaza onslaught, focus turns to the controversial Ben Gurion Canal Project, originally proposed in the 1960s as an alternative to the Suez Canal.

www.newarab.com