Comments on: Drought and Israeli Policy Threaten West Bank Water Security

By: FrankAdam

FrankAdam — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:00:14 +0000

There is a have the cake and eat it problem here. Israel is not obliged to do anything if the [Jordanian] West bank is “occupied” as that only obliges keeping things as they were at the time of occupation.
Actually the Israelis created over a 100 local reservoirs in the lands taken in June 1967 before major settlement became a policy after the Begin Government took office.
Another actuality is that the Arab population in June 67 was 960 000 in the districts of Gaza, Hebron and Nablus and is now at least three times that and complicated by widespread stealing from the existing watermains; and in Gaza “wild -cat” wells. All the same the water per cap is twice that provided under the Jordanian occupation.
Finally enough aid has been paid in but was stolen or misspent on rations instead of employment – do you give a man a fish or teach him how to fish? and if he came off his temper tantrum and knuckled down to work he would find the neighbours willing enough to talk and deal – jus tdo not expect roast chicken to fly into anybody’s mouth! Nowhere! No time!

By: Michael Dickel

Michael Dickel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:21:34 +0000

Water has been a central resource issue of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict since its inception (see http://www.helium.com/items/1086692-israel-palestine-west-bank-middle-east-peace for discussion). The current drought only highlights the critical role of water both in the conflict and in finding any sustainable solution. Several articles have been written about this issue recently, but also going back to 2002 when the Sea of Galilee was reaching low levels that have now become critical (see http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/883559/water_conflict_and_israel.html?cat=9).

The International Herald Tribune ran an article about water and food in the whole Middle East just today (July 21, 2008: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/21/business/21arabfood.php). Without an international water policy for the whole region, there will be war, starvation, and plagues I fear. Water is a global issue.

By: Reg Vernon

Reg Vernon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:53:22 +0000

I’m impressed by the scholarship implicit in this article. It has given me a valuable and wider perspective on the particular dynamics of water resource issues vis a vis Palestinians and Israel’s other neighbours. My sincere hope is that the peace dividend, when it comes, will result in a more equitable distribution of water in the Region and that Palestinians will be able to derive maximum benefits. Water resource management will have to be an essential part of a peace settlement. The consequences may be that the fiscal burden of water desalinisation will be properly shared where it is necessary.

By: hp

hp — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:05 +0000

The only water the Israelis received in their last run to secure the Litani river was in their pants as Hezbollah put the fear of God in them.

By: bozhidar balkas

bozhidar balkas — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:59:51 +0000

yes, nonviolent resistance! all is not yet lost. but it may be if pals resist violently.
judeo-christian world, the enemy of pals and other oppressed people, r to powerful to be conquered/deterred/staved off.
this soyuz wants to utterly destroy pals. thank u