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 water drawing from the Kinneret must stop, and must be increased from the coastal aquifer instead. Ben-Meir dismissed fears that the coastal aquifer waters would become saline, noting that there is significantly more water - almost a half-million cubic meters thereof - in the aquifer than there was during the previous water crisis ten years ago. Water Commissioner Shimon Tal disagrees, and warns that rejection of his water-cutback program could lead to a very grave water crisis. Most other speakers also said that a severe water crisis is on the way; one said that no matter how the situation is viewed, there is a gap of close to 125 million cubic meters of water between the demand and the supply. The committee is planning to summon all recent Finance Ministers of Israel to testify about their handling of the crisis over the past years.
The level of the Kinneret is now approximately 213.7 meters below sea level, 70 centimeters below the government-mandated \"red line.\"