Ben Gurion Canal Project: An Alternative to the Suez Canal

GS Paper II International Relations

Context:

Israel’s interest in controlling the Gaza Strip, including eliminating Hamas, is speculated to be linked to a long-discussed economic opportunity of the Ben Gurion Canal Project.

The Ben Gurion Canal Project was first envisioned in the 1960s to create an alternative route to the Suez Canal, potentially enhancing economic prospects in the region.
Named after Israel’s founder, David Ben-Gurion.
The estimated cost of the Ben Gurion Canal Project may exceed $100 billion.
The idea is to cut a canal through the Israeli-controlled Negev Desert from the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba — the eastern arm of the Red Sea that juts into Israel’s southern tip and south-western Jordan — to the Eastern Mediterranean coast.

Ben Gurion Canal Project

Opened in 1869, the Suez Canal transformed global maritime trade by connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
Significantly shortened the distance between Europe and Asia, reducing the voyage from London to Bombay by over 41%.
In 2022-23, approximately 26,000 vessels, constituting around 13% of global shipping, crossed the Suez Canal.
Critical to Egypt’s economy, generating a record $9.4 billion in toll revenues in 2022-23, contributing nearly 2% to Egypt’s GDP.

Traffic Bottleneck
- Despite expansions, the 193 km-long Suez Canal remains a major shipping bottleneck, leading to congestion issues.
- Notable incident: In March 2021, the Ever Given blockage caused an estimated daily loss of $9.6 billion in goods.
Political Struggles
- Egypt’s control over the canal has sparked conflicts for nearly 70 years.
- In 1956, the Suez Crisis saw the UK, France, and Israel attack Egypt, ultimately resulting in Egypt retaining control.