NICOSIA Ñ Hizbullah has warned retaliatory attacks if Israel attempts to stop operations of a new Lebanese water pumping
facility.
The Iranian-backed movement threatened to surprise Israel should it seek
to attack the new pumping station along the Wazani River. The river is a
major tributary to northern Israel and the station is scheduled to be
inaugurated on Wednesday, Middle East Newsline reported.
"If Israel launches an aggression on the pumping station of the Wazani
River, Hizbullah will retaliate harshly and the response will be a surprise
to Israel," Nabil Qawk, Hizbullah commander in southern Lebanon, said.
"Lebanon insists on its rights in its waters and let Israel search for water
and to save its face elsewhere."
Hizbullah has adopted the Lebanese water project and has placed Islamic
flags around the facility. Members did not rule out protecting the facility
with Hizbullah rockets.
Israel has maintained that the facility will result in a loss of up to
50 million cubic meters of water for Israel. The Beirut government said
authorities plan to pump around 10 million cubic meters from the river.
The United States has asked Lebanon to delay the operation of the new
pumping station. Washington has also urged Israel not to attack the
facility.
[In Jerusalem, Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said his
country agreed to virtually all of Hizbullah demands in negotiations for the
release of four Israelis abducted by the organization two years ago.
Ben-Eliezer said the negotiations failed when Hizbullah consistently
exploited Israeli concessions.]
Hizbullah threats came amid renewed tension in southern Lebanon. On
Monday, a grenade was hurled at the home of a United Nations refugee
employee in the Ein Hilwe camp.
It was the second such attack on UN offices in as many days. Palestinian
refugees have been angered by a cut in UN services.
