1. SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Group 5: Water Wars: Arab/Israeli Conflict over Freshwater By: Qasim Ahmed (0459879); James McNamara (0563509); James Holloway (0563263); Ewan Smith(0562971) IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2008 Current Water Resource Management The scarcity of water in the Middle East has led to the countries finding different ways to help maintain their water supply In 1964 Israel built the National Water Carrier which allows the transfer of water from the Sea of Galilee to the arid southern region 25% of irrigation water in Israel is supplied from re-cycled sewage water Israel and Turkey have signed treaties which allows Israel to buy Turkey’s surplus water resources. Israel has some of the largest desalination plants in the world, which supply 20% of the domestic fresh water. The Israelis have plans to implement drip irrigation which effectively supplies drops of water directly to the roots of plants through the use of perforated pipes Countries in the Middle East generally use dams and water treatment plants to extract water from their rivers, though sometimes direct extraction by the population occurs The Palestinians and Israelis use pumping and wells to access the waters in the aquifers but it has damaged their water quality The concept of “Virtual Water” involves importing agricultural produce from other countries, thereby eliminating the need for irrigation. Israel imports 50% of its food supplies but total reliance on this method will not happen for reasons of supply security, costs and national pride. The Problem of Water Scarcity and its Origins The Middle East is well known for being a volatile region. Water resources are intrinsically linked to conflict in this part of the world as they are strategic targets and objectives during armed conflict, as well as a flashpoint for disputes. The River Jordan provides water to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria. The Hasbani and Wazzani Rivers are tributaries which originate within Lebanon. Water resources in this arid region are strained by the need for agriculture, industry and sanitation. The source of the problem is the increase in population in the region throughout the 20th Century. The region suddenly had to support a growing population of immigrants that expected a European standard of living. The indigenous Arabs lived at subsistence level, making their living from the land and taking what they needed to survive and no more. Many Arabs fled Israel after its creation and population redistribution to the surrounding areas meant a greater drain on local resources. Increased demand and the depletion of water sources has caused tension and also further conflict in the region. A Brief History of Notable Conflicts in the Region The 1967 Six Day War – A conquest for freshwater supplies? Occupation of the Golan Heights gave Israel near total control over the headwaters of the Jordan River and its tributaries. This helped to increase the country’s available water supply significantly. 2001 - Israel threatens war over Lebanon’s Wazzani River Project in which water was diverted by two pipes to supply a developing settlement. The West Bank Aquifers – A water Apartheid? Israel’s presence on the West Bank after 1967 enabled it to: - Impose severe restrictions on Palestinian water abstraction - Deny Palestinians access to the Jordan River. - Build the “Separation Wall” which has surrounded and annexed vital aquifers that lay out-with the 1967 de-facto border – The Green Line. The 2006 Lebanese - Israeli War. This included attacks on water pumping stations and treatment plants along the Litani River, including bombing of the Wazzani River Project. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, stated that “A strong and capable state means a state that can proudly regain every inch of its occupied territory and protect every drop of water”. Creating a Sustainable Future in the Region The challenge of developing water resources in a sustainable manner presents the opportunity for cooperation between these nations and for the stabilisation of the region. Better management of water resources is needed which includes the implementation of improved methods & techniques in water abstraction and new technologies to help deliver water efficiently, especially in agriculture. Israel should reduce the amount of water used for agriculture and allocate more water into industrial and domestic uses. Palestine and Jordan should import water from Turkey, allowing access to almost 1,300 million cubic metres of water per year. Israelis and Palestinians should use the Coastal Plain aquifer to store surplus water thus optimising water usage. Countries need to attempt to limit population growth through education and family planning, as this is the primary cause for strain on water resources. In conclusion, encouraging sustainable water resource management is only one step towards achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East, but it will enable these countries to live within their means and give a better quality of life to their citizens. References Shapland, G. 1997. Rivers of Discord. Darwish, A. 1994 Isserof, A. 2002 Shiva, V. 2002. Water Wars Swain, A. 2004. Managing Water Conflict Selby, Jan. 2005 Third World Quarterly Issar, A.S. 2000 BBC. 2001. Lebanon hails ‘liberation of water’. March 2001 Israel Jordan Lebanon Syria Annual Available Water Per Head Projected Population Increases EGYPT ISRAEL JORDAN SYRIA LEBANON WEST BANK Geographical Map of the Region Israel’s Separation Wall Water Resources in Israel