Israel threatens to shut off taps for West Bank water

Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau threatened to restrict the West Bank water supply if no sewage treatment plants were installed in the area, a UN alert warned on Wednesday.

The official reportedly told Israel's Army Radio that "They get clean water from us, and in return they give us sewage. This destroys nature, and I would also say that this is the way that wicked people behave."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=274705

Now what's the holdup on the sewage treatment plants?

From the article:

B'Tselem's study found, however, that "During more than 40 years of occupation, Israel has not built advanced regional wastewater
treatment plants in the settlements to match those inside Israel."

Although the Civil Administration prepared connections in the conduit for collecting Palestinian wastewater, no village has yet been connected to it, due to Palestinian refusal to cooperate in projects that may legitimize settlements.

According to B'Tselem, 90-95 percent of Palestinian wastewater is not treated at all, due in large part to issues surrounding the construction and maintenance of treatment facilities.

The report cites the need for Israeli approval on all wastewater treatment facilities, and Israeli Civil Administration approval on all facilities outside Areas A and B (designated under the Oslo peace process) as a major factor behind the failure to build two out of three planned treatment facilities.

The one facility that has been constructed, in Area B, is hooked up to the nearby Psagot settlement. "Although its wastewater is treated in the facility, the settlement refuses pay for the treatment," the report said.

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I would have thought Landau's rather revolting comment '...and I would also say that this is the way that wicked people behave.' would tip off most folk that there's a problem...

its important to note that the water in question is not Israeli water per se but is harvested from the West Bank aquifer. Israel currently takes 80% of the water from this aquifer. It also prevents the Palestinians from diverting any water from the Jordan river.

poisoning themselves with their own waste....

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It's so much preferable to be sure there are no moderate, educated partners for peace, who actually have something to contribute to the building of a workable society, isn't it?

and here all this time we've been being told that reason for the the water inequality problems is due to those lazy Palestinians neglecting to build water treatment facilities, when in reality it is that Israel will not allow the Palestinians to build such facilities actually anyone who reads the B'tselem report would already know that but still that does not stop some as seen here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x291444#291698