Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM1322
2009-07-31 12:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PA ON RED SEA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #1322 2121223 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 311223Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5607 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 8641 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 5235 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4621 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 4280 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 4540 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0101 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0304 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 4883 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0429 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0655
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001322
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NEA/IPA KARLENE FRELICH, NEA/RA JILL SHAUNFIELD AND
MICHELLE CLOUD, NEA/ELA MEGHAN GREGONIS, DEPARTMENT PASS TO
OPIC DRUMHELLER/SASSER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL IS JO KWBG
SUBJECT: PA ON RED SEA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
REF: STATE 78652
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001322
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NEA/IPA KARLENE FRELICH, NEA/RA JILL SHAUNFIELD AND
MICHELLE CLOUD, NEA/ELA MEGHAN GREGONIS, DEPARTMENT PASS TO
OPIC DRUMHELLER/SASSER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL IS JO KWBG
SUBJECT: PA ON RED SEA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
REF: STATE 78652
1. (SBU) Summary. The PA reaffirmed its commitment to the
Red Sea - Dead Sea project (RDS),expressed hesitation about
taking a position on the Jordanian Red Sea Development
Project (JRSP) until technical studies were completed, and
requested a meeting with USG officials at the upcoming World
Water Week in Stockholm. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Fuad Bateh, Advisor to the Head of the Palestinian
Water Authority, reaffirmed the PA's commitment to the RDS
project (reftel). He noted that PM Fayyad's comments in the
press were mischaracterized and possibly misquoted; Fayyad
had expressed reservations about expropriation of Palestinian
land, not the RDS. Bateh said that Dr. Shaddad al Attili,
Head of the PWA, had publicly expressed PA support for the
RDS after the inaccurate press reports.
3. (SBU) On the JRSP, Bateh said that the Jordanian project
might present technical problems for the RDS. He stressed
that the feasibility studies could not be looked at in
isolation, particularly as they related to the water intake
at Aqaba, the impact on marine life, and seismic activity.
Bateh added that the JRSP would possibly impact the Jordan
Valley, and thus needed the consensus of the other riparians
before moving forward. If the GOJ did not seek consensus,
then the project could violate international law, he said.
4. (U) Bateh will be in Stockholm in mid August for World
Water Week and offered to meet with USG officials for
bilateral discussions on the RDS and JRSP.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NEA/IPA KARLENE FRELICH, NEA/RA JILL SHAUNFIELD AND
MICHELLE CLOUD, NEA/ELA MEGHAN GREGONIS, DEPARTMENT PASS TO
OPIC DRUMHELLER/SASSER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL IS JO KWBG
SUBJECT: PA ON RED SEA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
REF: STATE 78652
1. (SBU) Summary. The PA reaffirmed its commitment to the
Red Sea - Dead Sea project (RDS),expressed hesitation about
taking a position on the Jordanian Red Sea Development
Project (JRSP) until technical studies were completed, and
requested a meeting with USG officials at the upcoming World
Water Week in Stockholm. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Fuad Bateh, Advisor to the Head of the Palestinian
Water Authority, reaffirmed the PA's commitment to the RDS
project (reftel). He noted that PM Fayyad's comments in the
press were mischaracterized and possibly misquoted; Fayyad
had expressed reservations about expropriation of Palestinian
land, not the RDS. Bateh said that Dr. Shaddad al Attili,
Head of the PWA, had publicly expressed PA support for the
RDS after the inaccurate press reports.
3. (SBU) On the JRSP, Bateh said that the Jordanian project
might present technical problems for the RDS. He stressed
that the feasibility studies could not be looked at in
isolation, particularly as they related to the water intake
at Aqaba, the impact on marine life, and seismic activity.
Bateh added that the JRSP would possibly impact the Jordan
Valley, and thus needed the consensus of the other riparians
before moving forward. If the GOJ did not seek consensus,
then the project could violate international law, he said.
4. (U) Bateh will be in Stockholm in mid August for World
Water Week and offered to meet with USG officials for
bilateral discussions on the RDS and JRSP.
WALLES