Water Rights and Water Allocation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority

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Water Rights and Water Allocation between Israel
and the Palestinian Authority

• Sarit Shalhevet

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Map and Demographics

• Israel is about the size of New Jersey WB
  Gaza about the size of Delaware.

This lecture will discuss only the West
Bank, where the major water resources are located.
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Population (thousands, 2004)
Israel West Bank Gaza
Strip Jewish population 5,210 409
8 Israeli Arabs / Palestinians 1,330 2,400
1,400 Palestinians, Arabs -
20 85 99
Including East Jerusalem. 2002 Percent
of Jewish Arab population the total population
is slightly larger than the sum of both
groups. Sources Israel Central Bureau of
Statistics Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics
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Main Water Resources

• The Jordan River Basin - main water resource
  (shared)
• The Mountain aquifer in the West Bank Israel
• The Coastal Aquifer in Israel

Israel controls all water resources since 1967.
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Current Situation
The Palestinians suffer from water shortages
during the summer months as opposed to the
abundance of water supply in the Israeli
settlements.

• Israeli settlers pay 0.40 per cubic meter for
  domestic consumption the Palestinians pay 1.20.
• Israeli settlements are connected to the Israeli
  water network.
• 10-20 of the West Bank Palestinians (200,000
  residents) are not connected to a water network
  9 buy water from tankers (20 in South WB).

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Effect of Water Shortage
In the past four years, Israel has put up
checkpoints and restricted mobility in the West
Bank in response to increasing Palestinian
attacks and suicide bombings. The cost of water
from tankers increased from 1 per cubic meter up
to about 5 per cubic meter. Some households now
spend as much as a third of their total family
income on water. Very poor residents collect
water from the heavily polluted springs or cut
back on expenses for other basic commodities to
purchase water. In some villages in the summer
theres not enough water for the livestock, and
even for meeting basic hygiene and house cleaning
water needs.
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A Palestinian Village
(Talfit)
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An Israeli Settlement
A large water park in Ma'ale Adumim.  Neighboring
Palestinian villages suffer from lack of water.  
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Four Ethical dilemmas
Does Israel have the right to use the West Bank
water? According to International law, it is
illegal for an occupying country to exploit the
natural resources of an occupied territory. The
Palestinians The Israelis are stealing our
water. The Israelis We have prior use rights
(have been using most of the aquifers water
through our side since 1955).
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• Who should have control over well-drilling
  permits?
• The Israelis Externalities justify Israels
  control over water management in the West Bank.
• The groundwater flows from the Mountain aquifer
  to the aquifers on the Israel side.
• Over-pumping of the Mountain aquifer will cause
  seawater intrusion into the Israeli aquifers.
• Water pollution in the West Bank will pollute
  Israeli groundwater.
• The Palestinians Our land is illegally occupied
  by Israel we can be trusted to maintain the
  quality of our groundwater.
• In practice, both sides are causing groundwater
  pollution.

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What is the ethical allocation of water? Some of
the approaches in international law to water
disputes - First in time, first in right
(most common approach) - Equal amount per
capita - Equitable share defined by needs,
geographical and hydrological data and
alternative sources available
(According to equitable share analysis the
Palestinians allocation should be at least
double their current allocation this is less
than an equal per capita share basis)
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Who is responsible for ensuring the water
supply? UN Israeli human rights
organization Since Israels actions are causing
the water shortage, it is responsible for
providing alternative water supply.   Israeli
government Our actions are necessary to defend
Israel against terror attacks. Its the
Palestinians fault since they refused Israels
peace offer in 2000.
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Principles for an Ethical Solution

• Should be based on the following four principles
• Equal rights to water equal water per capita
  allocation. (One of the general approaches
  to water disputes between nations).
• 2. Meeting minimum water requirements for all
  the population should come before other uses.
• 3. Equal rights for development Palestinians
  have the right to the same quality of water
  network as the Israeli settlements.

Equal per capita allocation would mean that the
Palestinians have the right to much more than
their current share of water, but not a right to
all the West Bank water.
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4. A countrys right to protect its water
resources Externalities justify joint
Israeli-Palestinian water management and joint
decisions over well drilling (in Palestinian as
well as Israeli wells using the same
aquifer). The Oslo accords (1993) included an
agreement on joint management and planning of the
water resources.
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5. The country in control is responsible for
ensuring basic needs The water shortage is a
result of Israeli actions. (This work does not
judge whether the measures are essential to
Israels security or not. ) Short-term
conclusion Operate regional filling stations and
ensure water supply to villages without running
water, and supply water to the Palestinians at
the same price as the price paid by the Israeli
settlements.
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Summary

• Problem Inequitable allocation of water between
  Israeli settlements and the Palestinians, causing
  water shortage in Palestinian villages.
• Solutions
• Short-term Israel is responsible for supplying
  water at the same price that the settlements pay.
•  Long-term
• Reallocation on an equal per capita basis,
  giving domestic demand top priority.
• - Equal investment in water network.
• - Joint Israeli-Palestinian control of water
  resources used by both sides (Israeli settlements
  Palestinian well drilling).

For more information http//www.btselem.org/