(Globes) Lior Greenbaum - A senior Israel water economy source is accusing the Palestinians of gross and continued violations of the water agreement between the two sides. The Palestinians admit to drilling 250 illegal wells, but the real number is much higher. Since Israel withdrew in 1994, 2,500 illegal wells have been dug without any control in the Gaza Strip, salinating the aquifer, and rendering it useless. Any drilling in the mountain aquifer in the West Bank reduces the flow to Israel. The Palestinians are also illegally drawing off water from water pipes, without any interference from Palestinian security forces and water authorities, thereby aggravating the water shortage in their communities. The PA is also allowing sewage to flow into rivers in Israeli territory, even though donor countries had offered $260 million for sewage treatment plants.
2004-04-09 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive