Israel’s Cabinet today reviewed in detail the various developments surrounding steps taken or planned by the Arab states for diversion of the headwaters of the Jordan River. The reports from the Arab countries were analyzed, and a decision was taken to review the issue again at a later meeting, to be attended by Mrs. Golda Meir, the Foreign Minister. Mrs. Meir was absent from the Cabinet session, having entered a hospital for a check-up.
Israel’s attitude toward the Arab plans for encroachment upon the Jordan River headwaters had been made clear by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, who had warned that such measures to deny Israel its water rights would be considered by Israel as a threat against its “life blood.” While further details are awaited about the Arab plans, drawn last week at a conference of 13 Arab League Prime Ministers in Cairo, it was felt by leading Israelis that the Arabs must have no doubt about Israel’s determination to safeguard her water resources.
Information has been received here from Lebanon, indicating that Lebanon’s Parliament will be asked by the Lebanese Government for authorization to invite foreign Arab troops to help guard a water diversion project planned to start soon at Wazzani springs. That site is in Lebanese territory but is only two miles from the Israeli border, separated by a strip of land under the jurisdiction of Syria. Since Lebanon is a signatory to one of the armistice agreements made by Israel in 1949 with four Arab states, the possible entry of non-Lebanese Arab troops into Lebanon could be construed as altering the nature of the Lebanese-Israeli armistice pact.
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