The Knesset Committee charged with investigating the water situation in Israel heard the testimony of former Water Commissioner Meir Ben-Meir today. He claims that no more water should be drawn from the Kinneret, and that the slack should be taken up by increased pumping from the coastal aquifer. Ben-Meir says that fears that the coastal aquifer waters will become saline are unfounded, and that there is in fact significantly more water there now than during the previous water crisis ten years ago. Water Commissioner Shimon Tal disagrees, and warns that if his water-cutback program is not adopted, a very grave water crisis will result.