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Last update - 19:00 28/06/2009
Palestinian boycott keeps Dead Sea off '7 wonders' list
By Reuters
Tags: Dead Sea, Settlements 

The Dead Sea will be eliminated next week from a contest to choose the seven natural wonders of the world, because of a Palestinian boycott over the participation of an Israeli settler council.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature is a global Internet contest under the slogan: "If we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it." In 2007 it chose the new seven man-made wonders of the world.

Its rules state that if a nominee site is located in more than one country, all countries in which it is located must form an Official Supporting Committee (OSC) by July 7.
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Israel and Jordan have both done so for the Dead Sea, which they share, but the Palestinian Authority has decided against.

For the Dead Sea, a win would highlight the environmental threat to a unique lake which has shrunk dramatically in the past 30 years due to human exploitation of the Jordan River feed waters and Dead Sea mineral extraction.

"We will not be forming a committee," Palestinian Tourism Minister Khouloud Douaibes told Reuters, because the Israeli committee "has been consulting with settler councilmen on occupied land and this contravenes international law".

"Therefore, we are not interested in the issue," she said reflecting a view that renders the contest and its potential benefits insignificant next to the Palestinians' long struggle against settlers in their midst.

Unless there is a last-minute rethink by the Palestinians, the decision means the famously buoyant lake at the lowest point on Earth cannot advance to the next stage of the contest.

That is when Internet voters worldwide narrow down the field of 261 to 77, from which the final shortlist of 21 will be chosen ahead of the final vote in 2011, in which N7W predicts one billion electronic votes will be cast.

The Palestinian refusal was no surprise to interested Israelis who predicted months ago that the involvement of the Megilot Dead Sea Regional Council -- which governs settlements -- would prove a major obstacle to Palestinian participation.

"It's very sad," Megilot Dead Sea Council spokeswoman Gura Berger told Reuters. "The Dead Sea is so unique it's beyond politics. Neither my kids nor Palestinian kids will be able to enjoy it if nothing is done to save it."

Jordan benefited handsomely after the ancient ruins at Petra were voted a man-made Wonder of the World in 2007. Visits have more than doubled since it won the contest.

The Dead Sea's water level is shrinking by 3.3 feet a year, according to a World Bank study.


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      1.   Start a new contest 16:52  |  Axel 28/06/09
      2.   To hell with saving the Dead Sea - we hate Jews. 17:35  |  Dan 28/06/09
      3.   Palestinian Problem Solved 17:36  |  Ori 28/06/09
      4.   why do they have a say? 17:37  |  NADAV 28/06/09
      5.   what 17:49  |  Tony Silver 28/06/09
      6.   Depletion 18:13  |  Mark 28/06/09
      7.   Here is an idea Tony 18:17  |  Jackie 28/06/09
      8.   #3 save it 18:30  |  Jake 28/06/09
      9.   # 7 jackie 18:45  |  Axel 28/06/09
      10.   Israel is over killing th"Dead sea"by over exploiting its supplie 18:58  |  Moise 28/06/09
      11.   What international law? PA people constantly lie about int`l law 19:04  |  Robert 28/06/09
      12.   # 4 nadav 19:33  |  Axel 28/06/09
      13.   Tony Silver from Copenhagen 20:07  |  Bilbi 28/06/09
      14.   #11 Robert - read it again 20:10  |  BDS 28/06/09
      15.   To NADAV #4 `Why do they have a say?` 20:12  |  Colin Wright 28/06/09
      16.   Please, disregard both Special and General 20:14  |  17 28/06/09
      17.   Palestinian kids enjoying the sea 20:51  |  Sam 28/06/09
      18.   Tony silva: You fell for their lies and propaganda 21:03  |  NoDope 28/06/09
      19.   Those Who Make The World A Desert 21:11  |  UsedToPostHere 28/06/09
      20.   Here is an idea 21:34  |  Tom 28/06/09
      21.   axle #12 21:53  |  elimelech 28/06/09
      22.   Oh noes! 22:02  |  Student 28/06/09
      23.   Palestinian childer cannot enjoy 22:34  |  Victor Basileos 28/06/09
      24.   Stop Preaching To Israelis, Preach To The Arabs 22:36  |  lagunageno 28/06/09
      25.   I seriously doubt 22:38  |  rm 28/06/09
      26.   Good way of protesting! 22:47  |  Apa 28/06/09
      27.   The Palesinians don`t have a county, and never had one. 22:51  |  redbourn 28/06/09
      28.   # 20 elimelech 22:57  |  Axel 28/06/09
      29.   Declare the world round 23:09  |  Yonatan 28/06/09
      30.   Pals ,people with no history and no love of land 23:44  |  Absolute Sweden 28/06/09
      31.   # 2 dan 23:45  |  Axel 28/06/09
      32.   Liar Victor Basileos ,pal children jumped on my head 23:54  |  Absolute Sweden 28/06/09
      33.   To #15: California is under occupation 00:17  |  ricardo levy 29/06/09
      34.   Occupied or Disputed 00:28  |  yitz 29/06/09
      35.   To rm you are right on! 00:30  |  Chet 29/06/09
      36.   Dead Sea between Jordan and Israel 00:36  |  Mario 29/06/09
      37.   Ori yes, the world knows they`re nothing but liars. 00:51  |  petra 29/06/09
      38.   #20 elimelech 00:51  |  Said 29/06/09
      39.   EVEN THIS? 00:55  |  Ken 29/06/09
      40.   BDS #14 Art.49 DOESN`T say no settlements. ACTUALLY READ IT! 01:39  |  Robert 29/06/09
      41.   Palestine and the myth that swirls arond it is its own wonder 02:42  |  GZLives 29/06/09
      42.   Axel - Citizenship 07:20  |  Makevet 29/06/09
      43.   Dead Sea or Settlements? 12:04  |  Maskil 29/06/09
      44.   BDS - It is your interpretation that is bizarre. Here`s why... 12:44  |  Robert 29/06/09
      45.   redbourn 27 00:40  |  potobac 01/07/09
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