The Dead Sea is a unique natural and historical resource. It is the lowest point on Earth at 422 m below sea level.It has religious, cultural and economic importance, not only to the riparian countries but also world wide.
The widening rift between the riparian countries are dangerous and counterproductive.The Dead Sea should be a connector not a divider between the East Bank and The West Bank.
The Dead Sea is in the matter of a very important symbol for interreligious dialogue although from the Christian perspective the Galilea See is even more symbolic. You describe very generally a perspective of the importance of the Dead See. I would like to know from the Author of the Discussion some more impulses for the further research.
The consequences are disastrous for the Dead Sea and surrounding nations. They need to go ahead with the Dead Sea - Red Sea project and this might alleviate some of the issues.
Up to the 1970s, freshwater input in the Dead Sea was able to maintain a less salty topmost water layer (epilimnion) over-riding a salt-saturated bottom water layer (hypolimnion). The epilimnion was 40 meters deep, had a seasonal temperature variation of between 19 and 37 degrees Centigrade, and a salinity of about 30%. The water was particularly rich in sulfate and bicarbonate. Below the density interface (pycnocline, 40 - 100 meters of depth) the hypoliminion was characterized by a uniform temperature of 22 degrees and a salinity of greater than 34%; it contained hydrogen sulphide and high concentrations of magnesium, potassium, chlorine, and bromine. The hypolimnion was unmixed for a long time. It is saturated with sodium chloride that precipitates as halite on the bottom (Abed 1985). The unique mineral composition of the Dead Sea water and its high salt concentration make it suitable for the the production of potassium and magnesium. In addition, the high salt concentration provides natural cures against various skin sicknesses and the high oxygen content and low UVB exposure make the Dead Sea a prime area for therapeutic tourism (AbdelFattah and Pingitore 2009; Charlier and Chaineux 2009).
( This is an ABSTRACT taken from Macro-engineering Seawater in Unique Environments pp 77- 105 "The Dramatic Drop of the Dead Sea: Background, Rates, Impacts and Solutions)
Not that I agree with these findings. I was always told that salt was bad for the kidneys. I will cause you to lose them and later you will have to have dialysis or a transplant. I don't eat a lot of salt if it's not necessary. Bad for the kidneys.