KNESSET SEEKS SCAPEGOATS FOR WATER CRISIS

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001636



SENSITIVE

SIPDIS



DEPT FOR NEA/REA and OES/ENV

USDA FOR FAS/OCBD/DRDAD

EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL

AMMAN FOR ESTH - BHALLA



E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: SENV, EAGR, EINV, IS,

SUBJ: Knesset Seeks Scapegoats for Water Crisis



Ref: (A)Tel Aviv 1211 (B)Tel Aviv 242 (C)Tel Aviv 678



1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Israeli water crisis is turning political as

the Knesset decided to form a special committee to determine who is

culpable for the present water shortage. Sitting GOI ministers

endorse the effort, which is likely to fault previous

administrations for their decisions to delay funding and

construction of additional desalination plants and infrastructure

projects. Comment: Although the present government would like to

see its predecessors faulted, there is plenty of blame to spread

among all parties, as well as poor consumer practices and possibly

changing weather patterns. The water crisis may become an issue in

Israel's coming domestic political reshuffling. End Summary.



2. (U) The State Control Committee of Israel's parliament (Knesset)

ordered the establishment of a special investigative committee to

review the origins of the serious water crisis facing Israel. In

requesting the investigation, the Knesset watchdog committee decided

that it was necessary to examine the failure to implement the

recommendations of many professional committees and previous

government decisions on the subject. After Israel's last water

crisis in 2002, the cabinet decided to establish large-scale

desalinization plants and targeted water conservation savings to

reduce household water use by at least 10 percent. In the

intervening years, however, neither happened. The special

committee investigating this lapse will also be requested to

formulate recommendations for the short and long-term in order to

ensure the regular supply of water to the citizens of the State.



3. (U) Zvulon Orlev, Chairman of the Control Committee, said that

the water crisis is not an unexpected accident, but rather results

from serious failures by generations of governments of Israel. (Post

has outlined the evolution of the present crisis in reftels.) Orlev

and some media analyses have faulted the Ministry of Finance for

preferring immediate economic considerations over long-term needs.

In the quest for balanced budgets, he claims the Finance Ministry

chose not to undertake the required investment in desalination

facilities, in rehabilitation of the aquifer, in more water

treatment plants, and in effective water conservation programs.



4. (SBU) Sitting Minister of National Infrastructure Binyamin

Ben-Eliezer favors formation of the special committee. In a public

statement he was adamant about determining the individuals at fault.

The best defense of his administration, he implied, is to have the

blame placed on those responsible - those previously in office.

Although last winter's disappointing rainfall - just 65 percent of

normal - may appear the proximate cause, Ben Eliezer points to the

longer term problems of pollution of reservoirs, overpumping from

deep water sources, and the decision four years ago to cancel plans

to build additional desalination installations. Had those

investments been made, the new facilities would shortly be coming

on-line. Lack of a clear public conservation campaign until now is

one charge leveled against the government that even the present

minister cannot dodge.



5. (SBU) Comment: The water issue has now been seized as a political

football with which to score points. Eliezer tries to gain points

for candor and good management, Knesset opponents try to score for

activism on a key issue and stress the Kadima government's inability

to redress the situation. Given that the weakened Olmert government

is heading into party and probably national elections, the water

crisis may become more highly politicized in coming months.



MORENO