1.
LV ARMY PATROL CAR PAST OVERLOOKING JORDAN VALLEY
0.05

2.
TRAVEL SHOT FOLLOWING PATROL CAR PAST VILLAGE
0.08

3.
GV TRAVEL SHOT ALONG JORDAN VALLEY OPPOSITE ISRAELI OCCUPIED JORDAN. (2 SHOTS)
0.11

4.
TRAVEL SHOT PATROL CAR
0.16

5.
SV TILT UP SHIELD BUILDING (2 SHOTS)
0.24

6.
CU RUBBLE ON STEPS OF BUILDING TILT UP TO SHELL HOLE IN WALL
0.32

7.
GV WRECKED SHOWING HOUSES
0.37

8.
CU WRECKED BUILDING SHOWING SKY THROUGH ROOF.
0.40

9.
LV WORKERS IN FIELDS
0.43

10.
LV EAST GHOR CANAL
0.48

11.
TRAVEL SHOT PATROL LANDROVER PASSING SHELLED VILLAGE (2 SHOTS)
0.54

12.
LV WRECKED BUILDING
0.57

13.
CU DAMAGED & WRECKED BUILDINGS (2 SHOTS)
1.10

14.
CU SIGNPOST
1.15

15.
GV ISRAELI OCCUPIED JORDAN, CAR PASSING.
1.22



Initials OJP/VS/JH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE GHOR CANAL WHICH IRRIGATES PART OF THE JORDAN VALLEY HAS SUFFERED DAMAGE IN RECENT FIGHTING WITH THE ISRAELIS. RAINS HAVE KEPT THE CANAL FULL OF WATER, BUT WHEN THEY END THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE IS IN DANGER OF BECOMING UNPRODUCTIVE. SEVENTY PER CENT OF THE LOCAL INHABITANTS ARE DEPENDENT ON AGRICULTURAL FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

THE GHOR REGION OF THE JORDAN VALLEY HAS SUFFERED PARTICULARLY HEAVY DAMAGE IN RECENT FIGHTING WITH ISRAELI FORCES. THE ECONOMY OF THE AREA IS GREATLY DEPENDENT ON THE EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE GHOR CANAL WHICH TRANSPORTS WATER FROM THE WADI ZIGLAB STORAGE DAM TO IRRIGATE THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE. COMPLETED ONLY FOUR YEARS AGO THE EAST GHOR IRRIGATION PROJECT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN IRRIGATION, DRAINAGE, AND INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

THE CANAL IS A THOUSAND FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL AND IS ABOUT 65 MILES (100 KILOMETRES) LONG. IT STRETCHES FROM LAKE TIBERIAS TO THE DEAD SEA. CITRUS FRUIT AND BANANAS ARE THE CHIEF CROPS OF THE AREA. IF THEY DIE, IT IS ESTIMATED IT WILL TAKE BETWEEN THERE AND SEVEN YEARS TO RE-ESTABLISH THEM.

THE SCHEME, INCLUDING DAM AND CANAL WAS BUILT AT COST OF 21 MILLION DOLLARS, OF WHICH THE UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTED 14 MILLION DOLLARS.