Water Security for Palestinians and Israelis: Towards a New Cooperation in Middle East Water Resources

Description

Shared water resources in Israel and Palestine are often the site of political, economic, historical, legal and ethical contestation. In this, the second of two volumes on the subject, the authors look beyond the political tensions of the region, to argue for the need for shared water security and co-operative resource management. Winning Water Security for Palestinians and Israelis, the authors assess water security in terms of security of access to water resources, security of access to water services and security against risks to and from water. The volume compares and contrasts Israelis remarkable water security with the corresponding water insecurity of the Palestinians. The authors also set out the practical, economic, legal and ethical rationale for a revised cooperation on water security between the two peoples, proposing a workable scheme for putting into practice a new form of cooperation that would hope to benefit both peoples and strengthen their water security. Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: The divergence of two peoples and the nature of water security What is water security? Water security for all Water drove Israeli development – could it now drive that of the Palestinians? Five principles for action Part I: Water security for Israelis Chapter 1: The three components of Israeli water security1 Achieving water resource security in Israel Security of water services Security against water-related risks Israel is water secure Part II: Water (In)Security for Palestinians Chapter 2: Security of water resources for West Bank Palestinians In the West Bank, water for survival, water for swimming pools The institutional framework Water resources and uses Bulk water supply How could the West Bank increase its water resource security and reduce risks? Chapter 3: Security of water services in the West Bank1 Service provision for West Bank Palestinians today Case studies of service providers Service provider performance The efficiency and financial performance of service providers Planning and investment Sector reform Could the Palestinians emulate Israel’s achievements in water supply? Chapter 4: Sanitation and wastewater in the West Bank Turning a wastewater crisis into an opportunity: The long history of the Hebron wastewater treatment plant Palestinian plans for sanitation and wastewater treatment: A story of largely disappointed expectations8 Sanitation, water quality and public health The situation of sanitation and wastewater today Chapter 5: Security in water for agriculture and irrigation in the West Bank Agriculture in Jenin: All you need is water1 The West Bank agriculture sector Agriculture in the Palestinian economy today Irrigated agriculture The commercialization of West Bank agriculture Costs to the West Bank economy of lost opportunities in agriculture Constraints and risks: What stops Palestinian agriculture in the West Bank from matching Israeli achievements? Chapter 6: Water security in the Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip and its water resources The bulk water question Practices and prospects for desalination Water supply services Sanitation and wastewater Water for agriculture Planning and investment for water supply and sanitation in Gaza Why are the Palestinians so water insecure? Integration Institutions Investment Seeking solutions What are the lessons for strengthening Palestinian water security? Water security for Palestinians in the West Bank Water security for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Part III: Towards a new cooperation on water security for Israelis and Palestinians Chapter 7: What scope for a new cooperation on water? Comparing the water security of Israelis and Palestinians Palestinian aspirations for water security: The claim for more water Constraints to Palestinian aspirations: Palestinian–Israeli relations Internal Palestinian politics complicate matters Do recent developments improve the prospects of a new cooperation? Is water cooperation a pathway to peace – or a trap? Chapter 8: Incentives to change Why should Israel change? What conditions would change Palestinian positions? What can we learn from other water agreements? New and emerging incentives: Climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic Chapter 9: How could cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians be reset and water security achieved for both peoples? Towards a new compact Cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank Practical actions to implement Cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians for the Gaza Strip Last word Coda: What do we learn about the concept of water security? Water security in development and nation building The role of water autonomy in water resources security Desalination and water security Wastewater reuse and water security The overall contribution of manufactured water to water security Storage and water security The water–energy nexus and water security Cooperation on transboundary resources and water security How much water is needed for water security? Notes Bibliography INDEX