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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 - 31 March 1999 Issue No. 422 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 - 31 March 1999 Issue No. 422
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Profile Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Water violations
By Lola KeilaniThe recent rift over water supplies between Jordan and Israel is the first test for relations since King Abdullah succeeded to the throne after the death of his father, King Hussein, on 7 February.
"The Israeli decision will cause a rift in relations between the two countries and will have negative ramifications on the king's international status," said a political analyst who asked not to be identified.
Israel informed Jordan last week that it will not provide the kingdom with the 20 million cubic metres (mcm) of water from the Yarmouk River agreed under the 1994 peace treaty because of regional drought.
This refusal to supply Jordan with its water allocations will undermine Jordan's ailing economy. According to irrigation experts, Jordan might lose half its crops in the east Jordan Valley -- the main source of Jordanian agricultural production.
Jordan, which gets two-thirds of its water supply from rain, declared a state of drought last January. To cope with the water crisis the Jordanian government plans to take control of privately-owned water wells, limit domestic supply and cut down on water supplies for agriculture.
In a meeting on the crisis between the two countries earlier this week, the Jordanian delegation walked out in protest. "They [the Israeli delegation] were evading the problem and stressing on finding financial assistance for joint desalination projects," said a member of the Jordanian negotiating team.
The Jordanian parliament and government insisted on obtaining Jordan's full share of water "regardless of Israeli reasons."
Prime Minister Abdul-Ra'ouf Rawabdeh was steadfast regarding Jordan's water share stated in the peace treaty, and said that "this is an official agreement signed between the two parties and we insist on the implementation of the agreement as it is. We will continue to demand our rights until we get them."
He added, "We are not ready to discuss the reasons which led the Israeli government to reconsider the water deal."
The Jordanian parliament denounced Israel's plans and demanded that the government obtain the kingdom's share of water.
Some deputies, including pro-government tribal leaders, said in a statement that the planned water cuts "violate a fundamental element of the treaty and are a violation of its provisions, shedding doubts on Israel's commitment to the peace treaty."
Other deputies went even further and asked the government to revoke the peace treaty to protest against Israel's decision. The motion was thrown out by the 80-member parliament after it failed to secure a simple majority of 41 votes.
Under the 1994 peace treaty, Israel extracts 12mcm of water from the Yarmouk river in summer and Jordan uses whatever is left. In winter Israel takes 33mcm from the river and 20mcm are stored for Jordan in Lake Tiberias for the kingdom's use in summer. This winter Israel said it will provide Jordan with eight mcm instead of the 20mcm.
Jordanian and Israeli water experts believe that the problem could be solved if the Israeli government cuts subsidies to Israeli agriculture, which uses 60 per cent of the water in Israel but produces only two per cent of the gross domestic product.
Mustafa Hamarneh, director of the Centre for Strategic Studies in Jordan, said, "Israel is still dealing with Jordan with the mentality of a stronger military power and has not adjusted itself to peace." Nevertheless, Hamarneh added that he does not expect relations between the two countries to freeze. "Several crises in the past erupted and were overcome," he said.
But Jordanians still argue that Israeli per capita water consumption is four times Jordan's consumption. "Israel will give us drinking water after it fills the swimming pools of the settlements," said an angry Jordanian.
