Report: Israel in State of Alert over Fears of Lebanon Water Diversion
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Israel is mulling responses to the possibility that Lebanon will divert water from the Hasbani river under the guise of the construction of a tourism center near the border with the Jewish state, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.
A senior Israeli army officer in the Northern Command told the newspaper that the center could be used to divert water from the river, which supplies 25 percent of the Jordan river’s waters.
Israel is concerned about the site’s proximity to the border, which lies not far from the Israeli town of Metulla.
“We are keeping a close eye on what is happening there,” the officer said. “Our concerns range from the diversion of water to the possibility that the tourism center will be used as cover to launch attacks against Israel.”
The Hasbani runs for 40 kilometers in Lebanon before crossing the border and joining the Banias and Dan rivers at a point in northern Israel and later form the Jordan river.
The Jerusalem Post said Israel has shared its concern with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and plans to raise the issue during one of the upcoming tripartite meetings held in Naqoura.
“This could become a strategic problem,” another officer said.
09 July 2012, 12:11
37
Israel is a downstream state and as such has rights to the waters of the Hasbani. This is not my opinion but international law. Diverting the waters of the Hasbani without direct or indirect agreement with Israel is illegal and an unnecessary provocation and escalation of an already tense situation.
09 July 2012, 13:37
53
You are so confused it is unbelievable to watch the changes that go through your comments. Seriously, it gives me whiplash!
One minute you say Sayyid Hassan is losing popularity from his own people due to the 2006 war that "he" decided to wage and that the destruction and death left behind made his own people dislike him.
Now you are saying that due to his supposed loss of popularity, he wants to start another war to gain popularity! Your "dissection" of the situation, facts and your assumptions of people's tendencies are all completely messed up my friend.
09 July 2012, 14:25
27
I agree with jabal: international laws forbid water diversions. this would be an unnecessary excuse for war.
09 July 2012, 15:26
25
@slash
Had you left out the first few words of your comment ("where YA MAHBOUL"), I would have dignified your response with yet another response.
However, I only have myself to blame for starting a conversation with a proven filthy-mouthed egocentric cannot-see-past-his-own-nose-narcissitic male chauvanist such as yourself.
I should have known it would go nowhere.
09 July 2012, 15:50
12
Whynot no need for me to 3abbe may men 3endon. The are downstream. They get the water that they get. They can't get more. Only upstream states like Lebanon can get more, at their expense. Fluid Dynamics 101 ;-)
09 July 2012, 12:48
00
maybe it is not legal but I agree on pressuring Israel this way, because at least by doing that we can put pressure on them for not steeling our offshore resources which is also not legal
09 July 2012, 13:01
27
Results of the divine Victory:
Lebanon: 1200 victims 30% children under 13 years. 4409 15% permanantly disabled. 40 killed later by clusterbombs and 270 injured. Financial losses 5 billion
Israel 165 victims 44 of which are civilians. financial 3.5 billion
Victory is a relative word. I am not denying that it takes great courage and determination to stand up to a fully equipped murderous army. However, we did not all die in the war is hardly a victory.
09 July 2012, 16:26
00
Can anyone explain to me with water so abundant in Lebanon, how in the hell can you explain the water rationing? Now I know it's against international law but if water diversion means an end/solution to water rationing then I'm all for it, I don't think Lebanon will be the first country to divert water, Israel do it in the occupied territories and the Turks do it diverting water from Iraq and Syria.
09 July 2012, 22:51
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That does not surprise me, what isn't mismanaged or stolen bi bilad al arz?
09 July 2012, 16:51
04
Mowaten, Lebanon is allotted 35 million cubic meters as per the Jhonston Plan of 1953. I don't know how much of these 35 millions we are currently using. My point is that any tinkering with the flow of the Hasbani should be coordinated, at least indirectly with the Israelis. There is a mechanism in place for this. We meet the Israelis on a regular basis at the border to coordinate on a range of issues. We don't need another conflict with anybody right now. We can't afford any marjalé.
In order to avoid a conflict we need at least to understand the other party's concerns. In 1964, the Arabs tried to divert the Hasbani to the Yarmouk, completely away from Israel (Second Arab League's decision). It eventually contributed to triggering the war of 67. So the Israelis are very sensitive to this issue and it needs to be handled responsibly. We don't need another war.
10 July 2012, 08:53
02
Lebanon uses only 10% of the allocated 35 million cubic metres. Israel has always and will always, have their greedy eyes for Lebanon's water.
09 July 2012, 16:56
00
countries divert water all the time and it doesnt mean they will be cutting the supply to israel off.does israel ever not whine and cry about how bad off they are.
09 July 2012, 17:36
01
@jabal10452, a few weeks ago I decided to no longer post here anymore, but I just wanted you to know I appreciate and enjoy yours. Thx.
09 July 2012, 18:55
02
Ya ahla :-)
But you should continue to voice your opinion. Ignore the msabbét and contribute to the debate. It helps.
09 July 2012, 20:18
21
Nor will I accept any moderator to delete my post because I acknowledge the right of the state of Israel to exist. I am free to believe that Israelis have a fundamental right to have a country and I feel just as strongly that every Palestinian refugee has the right to return to a Palestinian state existing side by side to an Israeli one. It's the principal of it my friend, I am free and no one can censor me.
09 July 2012, 20:18
00
Negative Red Ryder. I have emailed back and forth with the webmaster and he and I do not see eye to eye on a few things. Some of the moderators are M8 supporters while others are M14 and they can't agree on how to manage the content in a fair and consistent manner. This website is neither mature nor serious about its identity and is mismanaged by biased unprofessionalism. I will not share the stage with those who advocate shooting M14 supporters in the head and dissolving them in acid and get away with such language. The ID under which that filth was posted repeatedly should have been disabled if nothing else but to send a message to the members that they will have to come up with a new ID every time they spew such vile rhetoric only to have their account disabled again and again.
09 July 2012, 21:46
00
i agree that this forum is neither serious or mature. so its not really worth getting worked up over. however, if the moderators created a forum for the website where topics can be discussed instead of using comment sections of random articles that never last more than a day
09 July 2012, 18:01
11
lol, the difference is that israel is the master of no one here but you are describing exactly what your syrian masters are doing to lebanese... but seems it s normal for syria but not for israel! double standards as usual "patriot" LOL!
09 July 2012, 18:04
13
None of the above is an israeli lover buddy. We hate the guts of this criminal racist country who raped Lebanon.
However today, our biggest problem is not really israel. It is syria's criminal regime. Last time an israeli killed Lebanese was 6 years ago. Syria killed a little girl sleeping in her bed yesterday.
Get your priorities straight. If you Love lebanon, Hate israel all u want. But hate syria's regime a tad more.
09 July 2012, 23:03
00
@ bandoul,
my friend welcome back to the board, you're posts and insights are always welcome @ least by me and I'm sure by many others, we need all the help we can get to counter march 8 supporters like FT and the rest of his gang, don't be a stranger.
10 July 2012, 02:32
00
Every country has a right to use the water on its land. Per capita, Israel uses more water coming from the Jordan river than ANY of the surrounding Arab countries. Israel STEALS water from the Palestinian territories and DIVERTS it (against international law) to pre 1948 Palestine (Israel). Lebanon has the right to MORE of the water that is currently flowing. I love how a few Lebanese are anxious to attack and demonize other Lebanese, but immediately come to the Israeli side even when it comes to using our water. Shame!
10 July 2012, 04:54
00
No worries, Israel. Field Marshal Fares Soaid will come to your rescue at the head of the March 14 warriors against wled baladon, just as they did at the height of the Syrian occupation.
10 July 2012, 12:02
01
Israel commits a war crime every single day by violating our air space. But it's understandable for them. We are terrorists, after all. We can't be trusted with our own air space. BUT GOD FORBID WE VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW BY TOUCHING THAT WATER.
