VARIOUS: WATER RIGHTS SET TO BE HIGH ON AGENDA AT ISRAELI-SYRIAN PEACE TALKS IN WEST VIRGINIA

Record ID: 276691

  • Title: VARIOUS: WATER RIGHTS SET TO BE HIGH ON AGENDA AT ISRAELI-SYRIAN PEACE TALKS IN WEST VIRGINIA
  • Date: 3rd January 2000
  • Summary: GOLAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) 1. LV MINERAL WATER FACTORY "MEI EDEN" IN THE GOLAN SETTLEMENT OF KATZRIN 0.04 2. WS/PAN INTERIORS OF FACTORY/WATER BOTTLES FILLED UP (2 SHOTS) 0.20 3. VARIOUS LARGE WATER BOTTLES BEING FILLED / FACTORY WORKERS (3 SHOTS) 0.37 4. PAN DOWN/PAN BANIAS WATER FALLS/RIVER BANIAS STREAMING THROUGH TREES (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/ GOLAN/ GALILEE, ISRAEL/TEL AVIV, ISRAEL/ NORTHERN ISRAEL
  • City:
  • Country: Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel MIDDLE EAST
  • Reuters ID: LVA2LZU5UMHM5477Y9EW37PE6L9Y
  • Story Text: As Israeli-Syrian peace talks pick up after a slow
    start, one central issue up for discussion is water rights.

    The three issues at the heart of peace negotations --
    security, border issues and water rights --
    are regarded by some analysts as equal in importance.

    But the water issue has grown in stature due to a
    prolonged drought.

    Even so, it may be the issue most easily resolved.

    In northern parts of Israel, including territories held
    since the 1967 Middle East War, water is so plentiful it is
    bottled, distributed across Israel and even exported.

    But that could well end with an Israeli-Syrian peace deal.

    If Israeli-held territories in the Golan are handed back to
    Syria, water sources that most Israelis hold dear would be
    handed back too.

    For the past decade, the Mei Eden bottling plant in the
    Golan Heights has been producing mineral water.

    Water from the Golan is also pumped through irrigation
    pipes and along aqueducts to become part of Israel's national
    water grid.

    Ask any Israeli the importance of water, and it becomes
    clear that it is a resource held dear by most residents of
    this thirsty country.But while water is associated with the
    Golan, it is also associated with peace.

    "Life, existence, Golan, if we talk about actuality.Our
    source of water comes from there," explained Elinor Gigi, a
    Jerusalem resident.

    "If we will come to an agreement with Syria, and at the
    end of it will get water, the water is not going to be an
    issue for withdrawal of the Golan.That's what I think." said
    Roni Chen, another Jerusalem resident.

    While the future of the Golan Heights is expected to top
    the agenda in Shepherdstown, water issues remain crucial,
    according to former negotiator Itamar Rabinovich.

    "It's very crucial.For Israel, it's as important as the
    security.Security of the quality and quantity, is a major
    national
    security concern.There will be no agreement without Israel's
    requirements being met on this," he said.

    The deliberations in West Virginia will focus on borders,
    the extent of an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights,
    security arrangements, normalisation of relations and water
    resources.

    Syria has called on Israel to withdraw to its June 4,
    1967, borders.

    That would not only give Syria the Golan Heights,
    inhabited by some 17,000 Jewish settlers and 19,000 indigenous
    Druze Arabs, it would also give Syria access to the Sea of
    Galilee, the principle water source in the area.

    But that won't be welcomed by the settlers who have set up
    water bottling plants, or some farmers in northern Israel who
    depend on water from the Golan.

    And a crippling drought accross Israel and its eastern
    neighbours this year has increased fears over giving up
    control over water.

    Despite those fears, Rabinovich said that water issues
    would be area most easily resolved in peace talks.But he
    wouldn't provide any magic formula.
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