THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, February 8, 1980 19 Official Calls Water Crucial Element in M.E. WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Carter Administration of- ficial stressed last week that the need for water could become "a cause of conflict" or "an imperative for cooperation" between Is- rael and Jordan. Joseph Wheeler, acting administrator of the Agency for International Develop- ment, told the House Foreign Affairs subcommit- tee for Europe and the Mid- dle East that there was only a "fixed and limited supply" of water in the area. "Of particular concern is the area on both sides of the lower Jordan River where Israel, Jordan and the West Bank share geographically the surface waters and in part the underground waters. The usable capacity of the principal water re- source, the Jordan River, and its natural storage re- servoir, Lake Tiberias, have been exploited." Wheeler, who was the leadoff witness in the start of Congressional hearings of proposed United States foreign aid for the 1981 fiscal year, was asked by Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.), the subcommittee's chair- man, which country con- trols the waters of the Israel Declines Olympic Invite to Lake Placid NEW YORK (JTA) — Al- though the Israel Olympic Committee (IOC) has re- ceived an invitation from the United States Olympic Committee to participate in the upcoming Winter Games at Lake Placid dur- ing the early part of Feb- ruary, the Israelis have turned down the bid. Chaim Glovinsky, secre- tary of the Israel Olympic Committed, advised the United States officials, "Un- fortunately we don't have enough snow here in Israel to develop ice skaterS and skiers. Therefore, we shall not be able to send competi- tors who are capable of meeting the best from around the world." Jordan River. He replied that Israel has access above Lake Tiberias but Syria and Jordan have "some access" to tributaries of the Jordan River. Wheeler pointed out that "already, inadequate sup- ply of water and sewage capacity are creating a major health problem for the Jordanian plateau and the major cities of Amman and Irbid where over 80 per- cent of the Jordanian popu- lation lives." He said that Jordan "plans to control" the Yar- mouk River by constructing a storage dam at Maqarin on the border between Jor- dan and Syria some 30 miles from Lake Tiberias. "Within 20 years or so all the water will be needed in its first use for urban uses on the Jordanian plateau," he said. "Meanwhile, the need for water in Israel and on the West Bank is increas- ing. Against this back- ground of regional water shortage which affects the vital interest of Israel, Jor- dan and the West Bank, water resource questions constitute a major economic and political issue." Wheeler was also asked about such issues as in- flation. "The most dif- ficult case is Israel," he said. He said attempts have been made to encourage the resump- tion of an earlier growth rate to combat inflation. Egypt's inflation is "offi- cially in the 10-15 percent range," Wheeler said. He said a more accurate figure would be 20-30 percent be- cause many items, such as bread, are subsidized by the government. Wheeler said that the re- mittances by the more than two million workers from Jordan, North Yemen and Syria working in the oil- rich Arab countries are an important "financial re- source" for their home coun- tries. "Their current annual remittances are about $5 billion," he said. "Over half of these workers are in Saudi Arabia, with Libya and Kuwait employing a large portion of the remain- der." He said that remit- tances to Egypt total nearly $2 billion a year. lion in 1978 and ceased completely last year, Wheeler said. On the other hand, assistance to Syria almost tripled from $500 million to $1.3 billion. Similarly aid to Jordan was $640 million in 1979 and is "estimated at an even higher level in 1980," Wheeler testified. On another point, Wheeler said the Middle East "is affected by rapid change more than most areas of the world." He said "The Near East con- tains some of the richest and some of the poorest peoples of the world." He named Egypt, Jordan and Syria among the "If foreign exchange earnings from remit- tances and exports were reduced sharply there would be critical shor- tages," Wheeler said. "Similarly, a sudden major influx of returning migrant workers would create a major unem- ployment problem." Wheeler said the oil- producing countries have been providing "on the order of $2.5 billion an- nually" to other Arab coun- tries. However, since the Egyptian-Israel agree- ments, the amount to Egypt has been reduced while in- creased to other countries. He said that Egypt re- ceived $1.6 billion in 1975 and $2 billion in 1977. Since the Camp David ac- cords new commitments to Egypt dropped to $500 mil- DE LAPELS poorest. Suits by. Lents Cheshire Maras come to the source I ROM con- your For venience, we now offer a Gift Registry. - Was Peat Lass Mods Waren $12 We have mesterei the art • ,01 iitricate Mitt Seva3eitoviti- Ta pper 's 26400 '39 ONLY 20% Off Discussing literacy, Wheeler said only five coun- tries in the area have adult literacy rates over 50 per- cent: Turkey, Jordan, Tunisia, Syria and Israel. 414;11 IlErta CMS =WI Met LrBallists AtteratianSinciest TUXEDO RENTALS Lowest Prices . 12 Mile Rd. Tel-Ea Piazza • Telegraph N. of 10 MI. • 357-1722 12 Mile 8 Northwestern Hwy 357-5578 BEAT THE PRICE INCREASE BIG SAVINGS ON IN STOCK 1980 PONTIACS NOW! AL STEINBERG El I SALES and EXPERT SERVICE ART MORAN PONTIAC 29300 TELEGRAPH 353-9000 JUST NORTH OF TEL-TWELVE MALL Philadelphia Brand Whipped cream cheese spreads happiness around. 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