Israel and stealing of Arab waters
Regional, Economics, 3/3/2001

The Omani daily al-Watan stated that a Palestinian document released by the Palestinian refugees affairs at the PLO has warned against the consequences of Israel's continued theft of the Arab waters. A situation, if unchecked, will lead to a war in the region.

The document estimated the volume of the Israeli consumption of water resources which it controls including the Arab sources is estimated at 80% and said it uses these amounts for agricultural purposes.

The document added that Israel pumps fresh waters from al-Yarmouk river to Tiberies lake. A matter which makes the waters of the lower part of the Euphrates river that Jordan can make use not usable for irrigation purposes.

The document stressed that water consumption in Israel increased from 350 million cubic meters in 1950 to 1000 million cubic meters in 1956 because of changing the course of Tibries water canal, drying of al-Houla lake and conversion of the course of al-Auja river.

The document also indicated that after reaching the rate permitted to invest waters in its own area in 1958, Israel had started to invest waters of wells in the West Bank before the war of 1967. The document continued that in 1956 Israel completed building the main canal of waters, a matter which led to an increase in its consumption of waters to 1320 million cubic meters of which 280 million cubic meters are Arab waters.

The document explained that water consumption in Israel increased from 2020 million cubic meters in 1990 after it confiscated Arab water springs in 1967 and occupied South Lebanon in 1982, of which the rate of Arab waters was 1471 million cubic meters.

The document unveiled that Israel is planning in the 20 coming years to increase its consumption of waters to 3000 million cubic meters.

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