Establishment within the United States Government of a Water for Peace Organization and other steps to promote international cooperation and development of water resources was urged today by a special U.S. Government interdepartmental committee. But pessimism was voiced about any joint Arab-Israel water plan.
The committee was created pursuant to President Johnson’s call in October, 1965 for a Water for Peace program that could result in a “massive cooperative international effort.” The body is comprised of representatives of the Departments of State, Agriculture, Interior, Army, Commerce, Health, Education and Welfare, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Agency for International Development. Its chairman is Kenneth Holum, Assistant Secretary of Interior for water and power development.
Tracing the Arab-Israel conflict and the efforts of the Johnston mission, the report looked to more recent clashes over water diversion and referred to the possibility of desalting sea water. The report said that “several short artillery attacks on the Arab work on the Hasbani have apparently deterred efforts to construct diversion works. But Israel’s actions have also contributed to revival of Arab unity and a determination to rebuild Arab military strength. The United States has made it a condition of its aid to Israel for Jordan water projects that Israel stay within the Johnston distribution formula.”
Commenting on future possibilities, the report said that now a significant new factor has entered the equation; The developed desalting processes, conventional or nuclear power distillation plants or reverse osmosis. By desalting sea water, the total amount of useable water available in the area can be increased and thus the total amounts that could be made available for both sides could be increased. Moreover, by proper locations of a desalting plant or plants the possibility that one side could divert the Jordan water system to the injury of the other side can be decreased or removed.
DANGER OF MILITARY ACTION SEEN IN DISPUTE ON WATER ISSUE
The report said Israel proposed a dual purpose desalting plant and the United States agreed “to supply technical advice to decide on the feasibility of such a plant and the best method to fuel it.” It was noted that “Egypt has announced its intentions to build a nuclear desalting plant. Whether the fundamental antagonisms that make Israel and the Arab states unwilling to agree to a joint plan can now be overcome may be doubtful.”
The report stressed that “these antagonisms are now probably greater than in 1955, The plans of both sides for future (Jordan waters) development are such that if they are carried out there will be a real danger of military action. It is all the more important, therefore, that a renewed effort be made to settle the water problem,” said the U.S. report. “It is of critical importance to the economic progress of both sides, to the welfare of the Arab refugees, and to the future peace of the area.”
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