US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2533

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002533 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2015 
TAGS: SENV, EAID, PREL, KWBG, IS, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COOPERATION ON WATER ISSUES 
AND GAZA DISENGAGEMENT AGREED TO AT TRILATERAL WATER TALKS 
 
REF: 04 TEL AVIV 6500 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Gene A. Cretz, reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
This is a joint Embassy Tel Aviv - Consulate General 
Jerusalem message. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  At Trilateral Water Talks in Tel Aviv April 
7 Israeli and Palestinian water officials agreed to 
coordinate on water-related aspects of Gaza disengagement. 
Israeli Water Commissioner, Shimon Tal, and Palestinian Water 
Authority Chairman, Fadel Ka'wash, agreed to begin working on 
a proposal to address the transfer of settlement water assets 
before the end of April and to produce a draft in May.  The 
Trilateral Water Working Group will meet in June to review 
progress.  The parties also agreed to coordinate planning for 
the Bethlehem waste water treatment plant and to discuss 
water issues related to the Kedumim garbage dump and Wadi 
Gaza.  They will report back to the U.S. on joint planning 
for water supplies for the northern West Bank and work 
together on a donor coordination meeting on wastewater 
treatment projects.  Participants honored the memory of Nabil 
Sharif, the Palestinian Water Authority Chairman who passed 
away after the last Trilateral meeting.  End summary. 
 
Collegial Atmosphere at Water Talks 
----------------------------------- 
2. (C) On April 7, the U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian Trilateral 
Water Working Group, chaired by NEA Senior S&T Advisor 
Charles Lawson, gathered at the USAID offices in Tel Aviv, 
four months after the last session (reftel).  Deputy Chief of 
Mission Cretz led the group in a moment of silence to honor 
the memory of former Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) 
Chairman Nabil Sharif, who passed away in February.  The DCM 
asked the group to support Fadel Ka'wash, the new PWA 
Chairman.  Ka'wash, in turn, introduced Rebhy El-Sheikh as 
the new PWA Deputy for Gaza.  The talks were held in a 
collegial and productive atmosphere, and the group reached 
agreement in several key areas. 
 
Bilateral Cooperation Very Active 
--------------------------------- 
3. (C) Reports from the Joint Water Committee (JWC) and the 
Joint Technical Committee (JTC) illustrated the very active 
cooperation taking place on water supplies despite the 
increasing urgency to address the needs of Palestinians in 
Gaza and the West Bank.  The Israeli water company Mekorot 
increased supplies to the West Bank by 3.5 million cubic 
meters (MCM) over the previous year.  In the JTC, the two 
sides are working through a list of 78 projects proposed by 
the PWA.  Areas of particular concern included the need for 
sewage treatment projects and the deteriorating condition of 
the aquifer under the Gaza Strip. 
 
Gaza Disengagement and Water 
---------------------------- 
4. (C) The main topic of discussion was the need to address 
the water-related issues concerning Israel's disengagement 
from Gaza.  The Israeli Water Commission and the PWA agreed 
to meet before the end of April to exchange information on 
water assets and develop a plan to transfer infrastructure 
and coordinate water supply arrangements.  They also agreed 
to have a written plan ready in May.  The Trilateral group 
will meet again in June to review the preliminary draft. 
 
Other Key Decisions 
------------------- 
5. (C) The parties also agreed to coordinate with USAID on 
planning for a Bethlehem waste water treatment plant and a 
related master plan.  They agreed to review PWA concerns 
about Israeli wastewater running into the Wadi Gaza in either 
the JWC or JTC, and to address the impact on water supplies 
of the Israeli Kedumim garbage dump on the West Bank in the 
JTC.  Both parties agreed to keep the U.S. side informed of 
their discussions on those two issues.  The PWA and the JWC 
will invite donors to a coordination meeting on wastewater 
treatment projects, with the U.S. side providing technical 
support. 
 
Successful Meeting, Many Tasks Ahead 
------------------------------------ 
6. (C) Comment:  This was the most productive meeting of the 
Trilateral Water Working Group in several years, reflecting 
the more positive political situation.  Embassy, Consulate 
General and USAID officials will follow up with both the 
Israeli and Palestinian water officials to ensure that agreed 
planning for Gaza disengagement moves forward.  Donor 
coordination on sewage and wastewater treatment will be an 
ongoing pressing concern, and the successful execution of 
sewage projects in Gaza will be key to relieving pressure on 
its overused Coastal Aquifer.  End comment. 
 
 
 
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CRETZ