Recent crustal movements along Mediterranean coastal plain of Israel

Abstract

THE high density of population along the Mediterranean coast of Israel dictates caution in the siting of power stations and major engineering structures. One of the critical questions is whether the coastal plain of Israel may be assumed to be tectonically quiet and stable. Lately¹, evidence was presented of Recent (probably later than 700 BP and certainly not earlier than 3,700 BP) faulting along the coast, and the coastline was assumed to be tectonic in origin, in contrast to the previously held notions of tectonic calm and a coastline shaped by wave abrasion^2,3. Though unable at this stage to comment on the regional implications of this controversy, we report that repeated precise levelling suggests the present occurrence of differential crustal movements along the coastal plain and the nearby Judea mountains.