Water expert: Syrian-Israeli water conflict can be settled easily
Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/20/2000

Professor Franklin Fischer, one of the prominent water experts in the world, said that the Syrian-Israeli conflict on the waters of Banias and Tabaraya can be simply settled and at a reasonable economic price. He stated that the question of water is not a question of life or death for Israel, rather a matter of "price."

Fischer, who is currently visiting Israel ,said in a statement to the Israeli daily Maariv, quoted by al-Quds daily issued in the occupied Arab territories on January 17, that his analysis was mainly based on the proper distribution of the waters, the technology of water desalinization making these waters drinkable, as well as making water a commercial commodity and thereby depriving, as a result, Banias and Tabaraya their role as "the life vein."

He added, "Nowadays it has become possible to produce water at a cost of 60 US cents for one cubic meter. We will reduce this price with the passing of years, thanks to technological progress. Just five years ago the cost of desalinization one cubic meter of water was 80 US cents."

He added that "captains" of the Israeli policy are limited to the theory which says that Banias and Tabaraya constitute the strategic wealth for Israel. He added, "Do not let waters break the peace agreement. It is better to find a settlement which states a joint international cooperation to partition it."

Fischer continued that a study on water consumption for the year 2010 and the volume of Israel's consumption for the waters of Banias was made, taking into account the possibility of Israel's losing water resources, and it found that Israel will be in need of about US $10 million annually in order to produce or import water of the same water quantity of Banias, but in a drought year the annual cost will be US $40 million. At today's prices the total annual cost will be US $75 million.

Previous Stories:
  Report: Netanyahu had approved withdrawal from the Golan to June, 1967 borders   (1/5/2000)
  Israeli ideas on the negotiations   (1/4/2000)
  Barak seeks guarantees concerning the waters of the Golan   (1/3/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search