The United States may dispatch an envoy to the Middle East to mediate between Lebanon and Israel on the pumping of water from the Wazzani River - a tributary of the Hasbani River, which flows into Israel, Israel Radio reported Saturday.
Israel's Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, in the U.S. for talks with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and other officials, said that Israel does not want a flare-up in the region over the pumping of the Hasbani river, but will not relinquish its waters. He called the diversion of the river by Lebanon an unnecessary provocation, Israel Radio added.
At the end of the Lebanese government's cabinet meeting in Beirut on Friday, the Lebanese information minister said that many experts believe that the next regional war would be over water sources. He added that his country had not violated any agreements and that Lebanon only wanted to exercise its right to the water from the spring.
Meanwhile, Shiite cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah condemned Friday recent threats by Israel against Lebanon in connection with the water project. He made this comment in a Friday prayers sermon he delivered at one of the capital’s mosques. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
