Aoun Chairs Meeting on Israel Theft of Lebanon Water, Says Country Won't Bow to Pressures

President Michel Aoun chaired a meeting of a committee tasked with addressing solutions to Israel's theft of Lebanon's water resources, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Baabda Palace meeting was held in the presence of Energy and Water Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, NNA said.

"Lebanon cannot give up its rights in its territory and water for any reason and it will not bow to the pressures that are being exerted on it," Aoun stressed during the meeting.

"Lebanon will take the necessary measures to put an end to the encroachment on its water, because water security is equally important as military, economic and social security," the president added.

Since its invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Israel has reportedly been taking more or less water from Lebanon's Litani River.

During the 1982 occupation of Lebanon the Israelis benefited from the Wazzani and the Litani’s waters, transferring water from them to Israel.

Moreover, reports say that in 1989 Israel installed pipes withdrawing from the Hasbanai and Wazzani rivers.