Israel to build 254 km fibre-optic cable link between Europe and Asia

 

Israel will build a 254 km (158 mi) fiber-optic cable, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Sea, in order to create a permanent link between Europe and the countries of the Gulf and Asia, according to the finance ministry of Israel.

According to the announcement from the finance ministry on Sunday, the fiber-optic cable will be built by the state-owned energy business EAPC (Europe Asia Pipeline Company Ltd.) along the route of an oil pipeline that travels across Israel from the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon to Eilat on the northern Red Sea.

Itzik Levy, EAPC Chief Executive, said that the project would position Israel as “a communication land bridge connecting the Gulf countries and Asia to Europe.”

According to the Israeli finance ministry, the cable will join subsea cables that connect to Israel's coastline. Any Israeli-licensed telecom business will be allowed to lease it for a 25-year period. The ministry also claimed that the cable would help to monitor any changes in terrain and detect possible leaks.

Europe Asia Pipeline Company Ltd. already offers its pipeline as an alternative to the Suez Canal, an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Most oil sent from the Gulf to Europe is shipped through this canal.

Europe Asia Pipeline Co., controlled by Israel’s government, will look after the construction of the cable. EAPC also operates the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, built by Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Recently, the Israeli government's plan for judicial reform was rejected by opposition leaders. The opposition accused the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, of blocking the formation of an important body in order to appoint lawmakers to Israel’s Judicial Selection Committee. 

Earlier, the planned judicial overhaul led to protests across Israel. Israelis took to the streets to protest against the plan.