Israel\'s national water supply is suffering from an overdraft of two billion cubic meters - and the country\'s annual consumption is a similar amount. These numbers sum up the critical state of Israel\'s water economy, according to a report prepared over the course of the past year by a Knesset committee. \"In 1966,\" reports Arutz-7\'s Effie Meir, \"then-State Comptroller Yitzchak Nebentzahl [father of the Old City\'s renowned Rabbi Avigdor Nebentzahl - ed. note] warned that the water situation would worsen within 15 years - but he actually understated the seriousness, and even then, nothing was done. In 1980, Israel began drawing more water than was available, and the number of residents grew steadily. The winter of \'92 was very rainy, and it allowed us to ignore the problem for another couple of years - but in truth, the problem didn\'t go away...\" In short, homes and farms could suffer from a water shortage very soon even if necessary steps are taken.
MK David Magen (Center), who heads the Knesset committee that prepared the report, told Arutz-7 today that he was not seeking to blame anyone: \"We found that the crisis could definitely have been avoided, but our job was not to name names. We were looking for water, not blood...\" The committee, which heard dozens of witnesses, found that part of the problem is the many government ministries - nine! - that are in some way connected with the water economy, leading to a diffusion of responsibility. The report also noted that alternative sources of water were not developed, nor was funding made available for the all-important desalination option. A majority of the committee recommended that a state of water emergency be declared, giving vast authorities to the Prime Minister.
MK David Magen (Center), who heads the Knesset committee that prepared the report, told Arutz-7 today that he was not seeking to blame anyone: \"We found that the crisis could definitely have been avoided, but our job was not to name names. We were looking for water, not blood...\" The committee, which heard dozens of witnesses, found that part of the problem is the many government ministries - nine! - that are in some way connected with the water economy, leading to a diffusion of responsibility. The report also noted that alternative sources of water were not developed, nor was funding made available for the all-important desalination option. A majority of the committee recommended that a state of water emergency be declared, giving vast authorities to the Prime Minister.