April, 1999
West Bank, Israel
In the politically charged Middle East, water is one of the most important political issues, and one that is gaining in significance. Sharing scarce water resources between Israel and its neighbors has always been a source of conflict. This year tensions are growing sharply, as 1999 promises to be one of the driest in Israel's history. Sorting out water rights and allocations will test the strength of recent peace accords, and commitments to preserve peace, in the region.
The Middle East is always a dry region, with few rivers and a hot sun that quickly evaporates much of the rain that falls. Conflicts have long persisted over rights to both groundwater and surface water. At the center of attention now is an acquifer that underlies the West Bank. Since Israel captured the region in the 1967 Six-Day War, Israeli cities and farms have gotten 30% of their water from this acquifer. This is such a large component of the national water budget that accesss to the acquifer is considered a matter of national security. Israel has recently ceded land in the West Bank to the Palestinians, but it has yet to give up its rights to this precious water. This year the Sea of Galilee, a fresh water lake fed by the Jordan River that is also an important water source, is also experiencing extremely low water levels due to the driest rainy season since 1939. And the heat of summer has yet to arrive.
Recent peace accords between Israel and Jordan and the Palestinians have detailed water allotments that Israel must provide to the West Bank and to Jordan. The Palestinian allotments of 30 million cubic meters provides only about a third as much water per capita as that used by Israelis. The newly independent Palestinian state desperately needs this water and more if it is to develop an independent economy, and an improved standard of living for its growing population. Many Palestinian towns in the West Bank have no running water; others have irregular supplies and endure hot summer days with no incoming water supplies. Israel also has agreed to send 55 million cubic meters of water to Amman, Jordan. The Israeli government has tried to press to reduce allotments to both Jordan and Palestinians, but any reductions could seriously test peaceful relations. Israelis recognize that staying by the agreement is necessary to preserve peace.
Meanwhile water allotments to farmers have been reduced. But ultimately more water is needed. Expensive, energy-consuming desalination plants may be the only solution in the long run.
For further information, see these related sites:
Core issues in the Palestinian-Israeli water dispute
Water issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict
Water research and management issues, from Technion University, Haifa, Israel
To read more, see
Environmental Science, a Global Concern, Cunningham and Saigo, 5th ed.
Water availability and use: p. 419-421
Freshwater shortages: p. 424
Deserts and climate regions: p. 415
Ways to increase water supplies: p. 423-426
Environmental Science, Enger and Smith, 6th ed.
Land use, development, and water: p. 225-229
Water management: p. 84
Aquifers: p. 286-287
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