"Settler involvement" had kept Palestinians from contending with Israel, Jordan in 'New 7 Wonders.'
By YAAKOV KATZDead Sea good 88 248(photo credit: Courtesy)
What does the IDF have to do with an Internet contest to choose the world's seven natural wonders?
Not much - unless you are Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai, head of the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria, and you have a close relationship with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.
On Tuesday night, the PA signed an agreement allowing the Dead Sea to compete for a spot on a new list of the world's greatest wonders that is being compiled - in a worldwide Internet vote - by New7Wonders.com.
With less than a week before the next elimination round, PA President Mahmoud Abbas signed the agreement late Tuesday night, after months of political haggling with Israel over the participation of the Megillot Dead Sea Regional Council - which is partially located in the West Bank - in the nomination process.
Earlier this week, Mordechai, whose job is to coordinate between the IDF and the PA, spoke with Fayad and PA Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh and urged the two to approve the agreement.
The PA's approval was needed since, under the contest's regulations, all states and government entities surrounding the candidate are required to submit a joint nomination. Jordan, which also borders the Dead Sea, had already approved the application.
Jpost.com staff contributed to the report.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
