State Comptroller Warns of Delays Threatening Dead Sea's Future Amid Declining Water Levels

The Dead Sea's water level continues to drop, causing sinkholes and damaging infrastructure. Although several solutions were proposed in 2022, no government decision has been made, and the problem persists. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has delayed submitting a critical report for four years, which is essential for forming a government policy to address the issue. Meanwhile, damage such as sinkholes is only partially being managed.

The State Comptroller's report highlights the geological facts well-known to the Israeli public, including the Dead Sea's annual water level decline of over one meter. However, the main criticism is directed at the government's failure to act, particularly the lack of an official policy based on the Environmental Protection Ministry's expert opinions. Despite a 2018 decision to finalize this policy by 2020, it remains incomplete. Without this foundation, the government cannot debate or decide on restoration measures. The report states that as of February 2026, the team has not submitted a final report, nor has the Environmental Protection Minister presented recommendations to the government.

In 2022, the Environmental Protection Ministry recommended stabilizing the northern Dead Sea basin by pumping water into it, but the method and scale remain unclear. Proposed solutions vary widely in cost, from 150 million shekels annually (pumping water from Beit She'an) to over 2 billion shekels yearly (full restoration of the Jordan River). Selecting the appropriate option depends on valuing ecological systems, landscapes, and tourism, a task the ministry has yet to complete.

Beyond neglecting the root causes, symptoms such as unregulated "sinkhole tourism" pose significant risks due to lack of proper infrastructure. The "Land of the Monasteries," a historic site linked to the Israelites' crossing of the Jordan River, suffers from extensive neglect: statutory arrangements are incomplete, monasteries remain dilapidated and unsecured, access roads and tourism infrastructure are unfinished, and the area is not freely accessible to the public.

The report was released as the Treasury's Economic Comptroller is preparing a new tender for operating the Dead Sea facilities and resource extraction, the first since 1961. The new concession is expected to increase government revenue and environmental responsibilities for operators. The environmental group Green Course called the State Comptroller's report a harsh indictment of years of neglect and urged the establishment of a restoration fund, requiring the Dead Sea Works (ICL) to repair damage and imposing strict future protections to ensure the Dead Sea's survival.

The report underscores the urgent need for decisive government action to halt environmental degradation and secure the Dead Sea's future.