Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV712
2006-02-17 14:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

POLLUTED MOUNTAIN AQUIFER BINDS PALESTINIANS AND

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000712 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/RA, NEA/IPA, AND OES/SCI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL EAID PGOV KPAL KWBG IS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: POLLUTED MOUNTAIN AQUIFER BINDS PALESTINIANS AND
ISRAELIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

Consulate General Jerusalem has cleared this message.

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000712

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/RA, NEA/IPA, AND OES/SCI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL EAID PGOV KPAL KWBG IS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: POLLUTED MOUNTAIN AQUIFER BINDS PALESTINIANS AND
ISRAELIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

Consulate General Jerusalem has cleared this message.


1. (SBU) Summary: A recent symposium on pollution of shared
Israeli-Palestinian groundwater highlighted that sewage and
untreated solid waste seriously threaten the health of the
Mountain Aquifer which provides water to Palestinians,
Israeli settlers on the West Bank, and other Israeli citizens
in Green Line Israel. Most solid waste and sewage is not
treated at all, though international donors have developed
plans to address many of the most pressing pollution
problems. Israeli officials at the symposium urged donors to
move forward with such projects despite the Hamas electoral
victory January 25, though they noted that GOI policy
precluded working with Hamas. The Israeli officials'
promotion of sewage and solid waste projects reflected the
humanitarian nature of such projects, plus the reality that
the Aquifer is of critical importance to Israelis as well as
Palestinians. End summary.


2. (U) Friends of the Earth Middle East (FOEME/EcoPeace)
sponsored a Symposium "Pollution of the Mountain Aquifer:
Threats, Obstacles and Solutions," in Jerusalem January 31.
FOEME Israel Director Gidon Bromberg noted that
Israeli-Palestian cooperation on water projects had continued
even during the recent Intifada, but such cooperation had not
occured on treatment of solid waste. One of the co-authors
of FOEME reports on pollution of the shared Mountain Aquifer
by sewage and solid waste stated that the Aquifer provides
600 million cubic meters (MCM) of renewable water per year,
serving 2.3 million Palestinians, 235,000 Israeli settlers,
and 500,000 in Israel proper.


3. (U) Several speakers described the low degree of treatment
of solid waste and sewage on the West Bank (the Aquifer sits
under most of the West Bank and part of Green Line Israel),
but also how the establishment of proper waste disposal sites
and sewage treatment could greatly reduce pollution of the
Aquifer. A representative of the World Bank pointed out that
there are almost 1,000 random dump sites at present. GOI
representatives highlighted the lack of special handling for
hazardous and medical wastes. Beni el-Baz, head of
Environmental Coordination for the Civil Administration,
stressed the critical importance of protecting the Aquifer
for future generations. Ilan Nissim of the GOI Ministry of
Environment joined el-Baz in saying that the creation of
sanitary landfills for Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and other
population centers in the West Bank was a vital concern for
Israelis as well as Palestinians. Both officials urged
donors to find a way to address pollution concerns despite
worries about the recent election results. Donor
representatives mentioned the possible need to find NGOs to
work with donors on waste treatment projects. The FOEME
reports and donor presentations showed that donors had
developed plans to address many of the outstanding sewage and
solid waste concerns.

4 (SBU) Comment: It was striking that the Israeli officials
at the symposium were so proactive in urging donors to
address pollution problems in the West Bank, despite the
recent electoral victory by Hamas. That emphasis represents
not only the humanitarian nature of sewage and solid waste
problems, but also the fact that the Mountain Aquifer is such
an important source of fresh water for Israel. End comment.

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