Hariri complains against Israeli threats: Lebanon seeks to complete al- Wazzani project
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 9/13/2002

The official of the contracts company which implements the project of pumping al-Wazzani spring water in south Lebanon said that "despite the Israeli threats, he received on Wednesday instructions to accelerate the completion of pumping al-Wazzani waters within 25 days." A matter which indicates Lebanon's determination to carry out this projects.

Ali Wahbi explained that his company Ward started since less than one year to install steel pipeline of 40 CM diameters for a distance of 16 Km that extends from al-Wazzani spring to al-Teiba village. The Ward company carries out the project in implementation of a contract signed with the Lebanese state by the southern Lebanon council, which is a governmental commission that supervises the development of this poor area ( south Lebanon ).

Wahbi stressed he will "double the number of workers and equipment so as to be able to complete the work in a shorter time." When the company completes the installation of the distribution network, a pump will be placed at al-Wazzani spring in order to provide drinking water to almost 20 villages situated within the area from which Israel had pulled out following 22 years of occupation.

On Tuesday Sharon threatened Lebanon with a military operation in case the al-Wazzani water pumping project proceeds, one of al-Hasbani tributaries, which springs from Lebanon and pours into Tebries lake, noting that his Israel had informed the US about this matter.

Al-Wazzani spring is at a 700 meters distance from the "blue line" drawn by the UN to be as a border between Lebanon and Israel following the withdrawal of Israel from South Lebanon. Al-Wazzani spring water flow for a distance of 2 Km before it enters Israel.

Al-Hasbani river springs from an area which is 20 Km to the north of al-Wazzani spring and meets with al-Wazzani spring before it enters the Israeli territories.

Water expert Nazem Nasrullah said that al-Wazzani spring waters constitute an important part of al-Hasbani river water whose upper part constitutes a real river only during the time period of December to April.

On Tuesday, an official at the Israeli ministry of Agriculture said that al-Hasbani "provides between 20- 25% of the waters of the Tibries lake."

On Wednesday, the Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri complained in the US embassy in Beirut against the threats made by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon concerning Lebanon's use of al-Wazzani river, one of al-Hasbani's tributaries.

A statements issued by the press office of the prime minister said that Hariri on Wednesday evening made a telephone call with the US ambassador in Lebanon Vincent Battle and expressed the complaint of the Lebanese government to the words of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon which is directed against Lebanon.

The statement added that "Hariri asked the American ambassador to convey this protest to the American administration."

For its part, the Hizbullah party on Tuesday threatened to attack Israel in case it prevents Lebanon from using the water of al-Wazzani river which pours in al-Hasbani river.

Previous Stories:
  Sharon threatens war against Lebanon if Hasbani river water is diverted   (9/11/2002)
  Israeli Mossad recruits former Lahd militias members   (8/28/2002)
  Lahoud: Israel continues human rights violations   (8/14/2002)

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