Possibility of Israeli Military Attack on Lebanon Over Water Division - 2002-10-16

Emile Lahoud, the President of Lebanon, inaugurated a plan to pump water from the Wazzani River in the south of the country during a ceremony. This comes as Israel has stated that it will take military action if such a plan is implemented. Thousands of Lebanese celebrated the flow of water. With this plan, 4 million cubic meters of water will be supplied annually to villages in southern Lebanon. Israel opposes the implementation of the plan, claiming that the Wazzani River ultimately flows into Lake Galilee, a major water source for Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has stated that he will prevent the execution of Lebanon's plan through military action. The United States, the United Nations, and the European Union have sent representatives to the region for mediation in this matter. Israel has once again threatened to attack Lebanon due to the implementation of a controversial irrigation plan. Israel claims this action will reduce the water level of Lake Galilee, and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stated in parliament on Wednesday that Israel cannot tolerate Lebanon's unilateral actions and will defend its freshwater resources. Peres made this statement after Lebanon began extracting more water from a spring that feeds into the Wazzani River. Lebanon intends to pump out 10 million cubic meters of spring water each year and deliver it to villages struggling with water scarcity. Israel says this will lower the river's level that flows into Lake Galilee.