Water Commissioner Shimon Tal expressed concern today about Lebanese plans, already underway, to build a pumping station on the Hatzbani River. Tal told Army Radio today that the Hatzbani supplies nearly one quarter of the water flowing into the Kinneret, and warned that if Lebanon succeeds in diverting the flow, it would have serious consequences for Israel\'s water supply. IMRA notes that in 1964, when Syria attempted to divert the sources of the Jordan away from Israel, Israel responded militarily, and the plan was ultimately thwarted by IDF operations the following year.
Mekorot Water Company Chairman Uri Saguy, a former head of IDF Intelligence, stated later today that the new Lebanese water pumping station was \"illegal, according to international law.\" He said that it could even lead to war, as “unilateral actions may lead to unilateral reactions.”
News of the Lebanese provocation follows yesterday\'s warnings that Israel\'s water supply is already sorely endangered. Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman had criticism today of Commissioner Tal and Mekorot Chairman Saguy for what he called their \"hasty remarks\" about the current water crisis. Tal told the Knesset Economic Committee yesterday that Israel\'s drinking water supply is in danger, and that drastic steps would have to be taken in order to ensure a sufficient supply for next year. Mekorot sources said that pumping from the Kinneret Sea would have to be stopped soon, while Tal said that private and public gardens would have to be dried out. Committee Chairman MK Avraham Poraz (Shinui) disagreed: \"Why turn people into delinquents [for watering their gardens]?\" He proposed raising the price of urban water use. Both Tal and Poraz object to raising farmers\' water prices.
Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi said today that the government must make some fast decisions about importing water and desalination, \"in order that we don\'t find ourselves in an even worse position a few years from now.\"
Mekorot Water Company Chairman Uri Saguy, a former head of IDF Intelligence, stated later today that the new Lebanese water pumping station was \"illegal, according to international law.\" He said that it could even lead to war, as “unilateral actions may lead to unilateral reactions.”
News of the Lebanese provocation follows yesterday\'s warnings that Israel\'s water supply is already sorely endangered. Infrastructures Minister Avigdor Lieberman had criticism today of Commissioner Tal and Mekorot Chairman Saguy for what he called their \"hasty remarks\" about the current water crisis. Tal told the Knesset Economic Committee yesterday that Israel\'s drinking water supply is in danger, and that drastic steps would have to be taken in order to ensure a sufficient supply for next year. Mekorot sources said that pumping from the Kinneret Sea would have to be stopped soon, while Tal said that private and public gardens would have to be dried out. Committee Chairman MK Avraham Poraz (Shinui) disagreed: \"Why turn people into delinquents [for watering their gardens]?\" He proposed raising the price of urban water use. Both Tal and Poraz object to raising farmers\' water prices.
Environment Minister Tzachi HaNegbi said today that the government must make some fast decisions about importing water and desalination, \"in order that we don\'t find ourselves in an even worse position a few years from now.\"