Israel and Jordan has signed a deal declaring joint administration on a project connecting the Red Sea and the Dead Sea via a canal, according to a report.

The project, which will be financed by the World Bank, has been advertised as a preservation measure for the Dead Sea and alleviation of the water scarcity in the region, said the Amman News Daily report.

It may also depend the already substantial dependence Palestinians have on Israel for access to water resources, it said.
 
The project aims at stopping the fatal recession of the Dead Sea, while gaining potable water for Jordan, Israel and the West Bank.

Along with a canal connecting the Red and the Dead Sea, a desalination facility has been planned to convert seawater into drinking water.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority will have the chance to sign a separate deal with Israel in the case it wants access to the water provided through the Read - Dead Sea Canal project, said the report.

About 80 million cu m of the planned 200 million cu m will be pumped up from the Red Sea by Jordan will be converted into drinking water.

About 30 million cu m of it will be bought by Jordan and about 30 to 50 million cu m by Israel. The PA will then be able to buy 30 million cu m of water from Israel by signing a separate agreement, it added.