September 17, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

U.S. wades into dispute over Mid-East water resources

LONDON, September 17, Graphic News: The United States has begun a mission to defuse a row over a Lebanese plan to supply local villages with water from two rivers that also supply northern Israel.

The dispute has the potential to spiral into armed conflict, with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warning last week that the issue would constitute a Òcasus belliÓ or Ògrounds for warÓ if diplomatic efforts fail.

Now, U.S. officials have visited a controversial pumping station on the Wazzani River ahead of a visit by the State DepartmentÕs Richard Larsen, who is expected to conduct talks in Beirut and Israel. 

The Wazzani is a tributary of the River Hasbani, which provides about 20 to 25 percent of the water that flows into the Sea of Galilee -- IsraelÕs main source of drinking water. It rises in Lebanon and flows for about 50 kilometres (30 miles) through its territory before joining the River Jordan. 
 
Lebanese officials initially welcomed U.S. intervention but now the Beirut line is that the conflict should be Òsettled within the framework of the United Nations in line with international conventions.Ó

In the spring of 2001, Lebanon went ahead with a pumping project from the Hasbani to irrigate the drought-stricken border village of Ghajar, despite strong Israeli objections. 

Beirut says the new drinking water project will take an extra two million cubic metres from the two rivers, which it says falls within its fair share of water according to international law. 

Lebanese officials say the WazzaniÕs annual flow is 50 million cubic metres a year, and the HasbaniÕs flow is 150 million cubic metres.

Speaking after a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on Friday, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres called the project an Òunnecessary provocationÓ from Lebanon. 

LebanonÕs Energy Minister Mohammed Abdul Hamid Beydoun said IsraelÕs threats had Òno justification, and no legal basis. LebanonÕs share of the Hasbani waters is undeniable. Lebanon is currently using seven million cubic metres of water per year from the Hasbani and that the project would raise its share to nine million cubic metres.Ó In sharp contrast, Israel is using between 150 and 160 million cubic metres, he added. 

Lebanon was allocated 35 million cubic metres from the Wazzani according to the Johnston water sharing agreement of 1955, but that was never ratified by Arab states because they did not recognise Israel.
/ENDS

Sources: Reuters, Al-Bawaba, Jerusalem Post