Dead Sea Deal: Who Gets the Prize?

Israel has a plan to make more money from the Dead Sea. They want to change the rules for taking minerals from this famous lake. The government says they want to make sure the public gets a fair deal. They also want to protect the environment. Right now, a company called ICL Group has the rights to take minerals from the Dead Sea. They have had this deal for 50 years. But their permit will end in 2030. ICL has said they will not get first dibs on the new deal. If they lose the permit, they will get $3 billion. ICL says their Dead Sea assets are worth $6 billion. They take mostly potash and magnesium from the lake. The new law would give the state a bigger cut of the profits. Right now, the state gets 35% of the money. Under the new law, that could go up to 50%. The government says this will help the public and the environment. The Dead Sea is shrinking. The new law wants to fix some of the damage caused by taking minerals. ICL says they want to be part of the new deal. They think they are the best choice to run it. An official named Yali Rothenberg says the law will make sure the state gets the most money. It will also protect the Dead Sea for the future. But some people might wonder if the government is really looking out for the public. Or if they just want more money.