Cabinet says water agreement with Israel gives it more leeway in Area C
http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=N8Bxzoa52126560057aN8Bxzo

RAMALLAH, January 17, 2017 (WAFA - PLO news agency) – The cabinet welcomed
on Tuesday the recent agreement the water authority had signed with its
Israeli counterpart and which gives the Palestinians more freedom of action
in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control.

The cabinet said in a statement issued after it weekly meeting, which was
chaired by President Mahmoud Abbas, that the agreement allows the
Palestinian Water Authority to carry out repair work on the water system in
Area C without having to return to the joint Palestinian-Israeli water
committee, which has not functioned for six years.

It said this will make it possible to fix leaks and other problems in the
water pipes and improve delivery of water to Palestinians.

It will also encourage donor countries to give more to water projects in the
West Bank since it will not be required now to get permission from the joint
committee to do these projects.

The United Nations had welcomed the signing of the agreement and said it
will be good for the two-state solution.

Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, said this agreement “would be an important step towards
preserving the two-state solution.”

M.K.