Do not mix apples and oranges

Don't Mix Flies with Cutlets

Israel has refuted claims that it seeks to establish control over Kazakhstan's water resources. The Israeli Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a corresponding statement. As the diplomatic mission noted, this concerns a public campaign against cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of water resources, as part of which opponents of Kazakh-Israeli interaction claim that Kazakhstan's water resources will soon fall under the control of Israel.

The embassy emphasized that in this case, it is not a matter of control, but of cooperation, within the framework of which Israel is ready to share modern technologies and many years of experience in the field of water resource management. The Jewish state is one of the world leaders in this area, and many countries are interested in its experience, especially in arid regions.

"At the same time, the cooperation involves an exchange of knowledge and practical solutions, while Kazakhstan retains full control over its water resources and independently determines the approaches to their management," the statement from the Israeli diplomatic mission says.

Earlier in Kazakhstan, concerns were voiced regarding the authorities' intention to transfer control over the country's water resources to the Israeli company Mekorot. Concerns were also raised that even if ownership of the infrastructure remains with Kazakhstan, reliance on software, maintenance, and data from a single foreign partner could limit the country's independence in managing this strategic resource. Some viewed the export of water technologies as a tool for spreading political influence.

In connection with this, a petition titled "Protect Kazakhstan's Water Independence" was initiated in Kazakhstan, directed against the involvement of the Israeli company Mekorot in the country's water projects.