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Netanyahu, King Hussein meet secretly on water dispute
May 9, 1997
Web posted at: 11:55 a.m. EDT (1555 GMT)JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan's King Hussein met secretly to try to settle a water dispute and salvage the Middle East peace process, Jordanian and Israeli officials said Friday.
The two leaders met late Thursday at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, two days after a ceremonial meeting between Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan and Netanyahu was canceled because of the dispute.
A L S O Clashes overshadow efforts to revive Mideast peace process
Netanyahu told his Cabinet the clandestine meeting was "positive and beneficial," and that both sides would continue talks to reach a mutually satisfactory solution to the water dispute.
Under a 1994 peace agreement, Israel is committed to supplying Jordan with water. But the accord has been interpreted differently by the two countries.
A Jordanian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting helped "clear the air." He added that the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were discussed.
Israel concedes nothing
Israeli Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon, who oversees waterworks projects, participated in the meeting. "The atmosphere was excellent," Sharon told Israel Radio on Friday. "I think we also found solutions."
He added, "I want to emphasize there was no concession on Israel's part."
Jordanian Foreign Minister Fayez Tarawnah said Friday that while the meeting brought the two sides closer, more meetings were needed to resolve the technicalities of the water issue.
The November 1994 treaty specified that within a year of its fruition the two sides would develop a plan to supply the parched Jordan with water, including desalination plants, dam building, and steps to ease pollution of rivers. No plan was formally implemented.
Reuters contributed to this report.
- Newsmaker Profile: King Hussein of Jordan
- Newsmaker Profile: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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