Sharon threatens war against Lebanon if Hasbani river water is diverted

The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has threatened to launch war against Lebanon in case the waters of the Hasbani river is diverted. The river springs from the Lebanese territories and runs into it for 50 Km before it pours in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a special meeting including Israeli military men following a session for the Israeli cabinet on Tuesday, Sharon said that converting the waters of the Hasbani river will be a reason for war against Lebanon.

In March 2001, a spokesman for UNIFIL denied the Israeli claims that the water of the said river was converted, noting that a channel of a ten centimeters diameter was installed to irrigate a Lebanese village that suffers water shortage. The Israeli radio said on Tuesday that so far, the Lebanese side did not pump the waters, yet.