1. Palestinian Water Sector Ambitions and Opportunities Palestinian Water Sector Ambitions and Opportunities R. El Sheikh Deputy Chairman, Palestinian Water Authority THE WATER GEOPLOITICS ROUND TABLE TURIN March, 2007

2. GAZA STRIP

3. Mountain Aquifers/West Bank

4. Water Sector Institutional Framework

6. Investment Plan/ West Bank

7. Weakness factors 1. Internal Factors 1.1Weak Enforcement of the law 1.2 No sufficient attention by the PA ( NWC, Government, Presidency office) 1.3 Deteriorating consumers’ water culture 1.4 Lack of integrity among related PA organizations

8. Weakness factors 2. External Factors 2.1 Israeli incursions directed most efforts towards emergency works rather than development 2.2 Donor community is reluctant to fulfill its commitments 2.3 Political situation is affecting negatively the socioeconomic dimension.

9. Palestinian Water Rights References Eastern Aquifer Ownership Equitable Distribution from South West and North East Aquifers Equitable Distribution of Wadis East Gaza Recover Complete Water Rights in Jordan Valley Basin Riparian Rights of the Dead Sea, Political and Natural Resources Regional Rights in the Mediterranean Compensation against the Israeli Actions since 1967

10. The Israeli View in Camp David Perpetuate the current inequitable allocation and provide funding for new water to enhance Palestine’s share New Israel Palestine Israel Palestine Overall Water Allocation

11. The Palestinian View (Step 1) Reallocate the existing water resources, generating equitable allocations Israel Palestine Israel Palestine Overall Water Allocation

12. The Palestinian View ( Step 2) Develop and allocate the “new water” - note that the end point is the same as in the Israeli approach Israel Palestine Israel Palestine Overall Water Allocation New

13. Opportunities A fair agreement on water must be included in the Permanent Status Solution. This will support peace initiatives and diffuse conflicts, which is the interest of both parties. Customary international water law calls for the equitable and reasonable allocation of shared water resources. Joint management of the shared water resources is inevitable if the agreement is to be effective. The provision of “new water” from desalination is the long term solution.