[john70t]

Heres a different perspective: population and environment.

There's what, 7 miles across and how many miles long? And with how much actual farm-able land? Add to the mix the increase of soil salt buildup and the removal of plant/tree water retentioners and there's very little to feed anyone.
Areas of the middle east (like the tigris/uphrates valley in Iraq) used to be agricultural/economic mecas and lushly forested in the time of the Bible.

Now add the high Palestinian per-capita birthrate, and the international importation of Jewish decendants to counter them in this political/religeous/economic fracus and the problem just gets worse.