A new plan to expand the living areas of Israel into the Mediterranean Sea called The Menorah Islands Project has made its online debut. The project’s promoters believe that it will somehow be able to play a role in the furthering of peace in the Middle East.
Israel is a very small country. Most of its citizens live in the narrow strip of land known as Gush Dan, or the greater Tel Aviv area. Even with massive building projects throughout the country, the price of apartments in Israel has skyrocketed in recent years.
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There is also the ecological impact of continued building in the mostly desert country. Environmentalists feel that all the new buildings along with the new infrastructure and roads destroy natural habitats of all manner of wild life.
The Menorah Islands Project is an idea for a complex of nine artificial islands and several causeways off the coast of Israel. These islands and causeways would be laid out in the shape of a candelabra, representing the object for which the complex is named. Seven of these artificial islands are permanent, with residential areas, retail, and institutes of higher learning. The outermost islands on either side emerge from the water at different points throughout the year.
“The Menorah Islands Project has the potential to bring the greatest and most committed minds together to build a place where ethnic origin and political alliance no longer matter, ” according to the Menorah Islands website. “A beautiful place to live, work, and vacation, these artificial islands in the Mediterranean Sea would enhance the entire Middle East through education, scientific advancements, and environmentally-friendly practices.”
Plans for the Menorah Islands Project envision centers for research and education in a variety of scientific fields, one on each artificial island. Each artificial island would have a tall tower in its center, with a designated public square surrounding it that would be reserved for exchanging ideas and encouraging conversation between residents and visitors.
Causeways would connect the mainland to each island, and each causeway is lined with roads, rails, and residential areas with room for agriculture. The entire complex would incorporate environmentally friendly practices in its infrastructure, including drawing water from atmospheric water generators, drawing energy from solar panels and wind walls, and advanced recycling methods to reduce waste.
