On Ms. Arafat, Ms. Clinton, apologies, people's misery and politics
Palestine, Politics, 11/25/1999

Palestinian First Lady Suha Arafat made remarks that Israel has damaged Palestinian water supplies through toxic waste dumping and other factors. She was later asked to apologize. Here is some background on this issue:

On 6/16 1999, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that "A recent study by Bethlehem University has shown that the water sources of many Palestinian villages are contaminated to a degree that endangers the lives and health of their residents."

The Haaretz report said "tests carried out on the mountain aquifer near Herodion and Beit Fager showed that 60 percent of the samples contained unsafe levels of bacteria, caused by sewage contamination. In addition, many of the samples also contained nitrates and other organic and industrial impurities known to be hazardous to human health."

The Haaretz report said "Similar results were reported by David Scarfa, who conducted a series of tests in the Bethlehem region. According to his findings, water from some 70 springs was found to be unfit for human consumption, but due to the absence of any viable alternative the population continued to use the water for both domestic and agricultural purposes."

Also, the New York Times in an August 4 1999 report about the visit of Dalia Itzik, Israel's new environment minister, to Palestinian areas where she examined Palestinan complaints about Israeli industial and military dumping of toxic and industrial waste, and the prevention of Palestinians to build their own sewage treatment plant, the Israeli minister said "Look at their lives here," adding "They are very difficult, and it is hard to look at. But we are not coming here as a favor. That was the attitude of the previous government. That is patronizing. We see it as in our interest and that is why it is important to come and see it firsthand. The Israeli minister said "We must deal with these problems. These are our neighbors, and if their water is polluted, so is ours. There is nothing more basic to peaceful coexistence than that."

Meanwhile, this issue had received attention in the USA where some had seen Ms. Arafat's remarks as provocative, and they asserted that USA's First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton should apologize for having not spoken against Ms. Arafat when she made her remarks.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian government apologizes over statements of Suha Arafat criticizing Israel   (11/25/1999)
  Levy asks Suha Arafat to apologize   (11/16/1999)
  Mrs Clinton to visit Ramallah   (11/11/1999)

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

Search