Water for Ishmael Just Like for Israel

As part of B'Tselem's campaign against Israel's discriminatory allocation of water and the water shortage that results, B'Tselem supporters will meet with residents of Yatta, near Hebron. During the gathering, Wednesday, 28 June, B'Tselem will distribute water to the residents and protest Israel's discrimination against the Palestinians.

T.V and Radio host Avri Gilad and the singer Amal Murkus will participate.

Transportation: Jerusalem: leaving from B'Tselem's office, 43 Emek Refaim, at 9:00 a.m. Tel-Aviv, leaving from the Arlozorov train station, at 8:30 a.m.

B'Tselem is publishing a position paper: "Thirsty for a Solution: The Water Shortage in the Occupied Territories and its Solution in the Final Status Agreement"

In addition to a description and analysis of the existing shortage, the document contains recommendations as to final-status arrangements on the water issue. The document's objective is to point out possible solutions so that the arrangement ultimately agreed upon meets basic principles of human rights.

Part 1 - The Water Shortage in the Occupied Territories

Since the beginning of the occupation, in 1967, Israel's government has practiced a policy of discrimination in the allocation of water between residents of the Occupied Territories and residents of Israel and the settlements. This in spite of the fact that much of the water resources are shared.

Whereas the average Israeli consumes 348 liters of water a day, average water consumption among Palestinians is 70 liters/day. Thus, Israeli water consumption for household, municipal, and industrial use is, on average, five times greater than that of the Palestinians.

Three Principal Features of the Water Shortage in the Occupied Territories

• Absence of a water network: More than 150 villages, home to some 215,000 Palestinians, are not connected to a water network. These residents are compelled to purchase water from private dealers at high prices.

• Discriminatory and insufficient supply of water: Some municipalities in the West Bank must rotate water supply by areas in order to distribute the little water available, particularly during the summer. In Yatta, for example, the town is divided into 14 sectors, each sector receiving water once every 45 days for two to three days.

• Poor water quality: The poor quality of water flowing through the pipes, particularly in the Gaza Strip, severely harms the quality of life of Palestinians and exposes them to serious health risks.

Part 2 - The Solution in the Final Status Agreement

The main principle of division of water between countries, as set forth in international law, is the principle of fair and reasonable use. The key that B'Tselem proposes in order to implement this principle with regard to division of water between Israelis and Palestinians is supply of the basic needs of every individual.

With regard to control and management of the shared water resources, B'Tselem proposes the general principle of shared-management, to be effected by an Israeli-Palestinian institution having the expertise and ability to enforce its policy.

Also, Israel' s control of the water economy of the Occupied Territories during the occupation violated international law and human rights principles. Therefore, the final status agreement must include a remedy for those violations.