Unfair Water Distribution Hurts Palestinians Severely

By Daniel

In July 2008, B'Tselem an Israeli human right groups headed by Jewish people warned of “grave” water shortages in the West Bank. B'Tselem attributes these shortages to the unfair water distribution between Palestinians and Israel. Only 20% of the water from the Jordan Valley which is in the West Bank and which Israel draws water from goes to Palestinians. As a result of these discriminatory practices which give such an unfair share to Israel and the Settlers in the West Bank, water consumption amongst Palestinians has fallen to a a third of the minimum amount needed

Palestinians on average consume a per capita level of 66 liters which is a third of what is needed according to the World Health Organization. In Israeli cities average daily consumption is 235 and 214 liters. Several times what the Palestinians are proportioned. In some Palestinian villages it is even lower. In Tubas it is 30 liters, in Jenin it is 38 Liters and in Nablus and the South Hebron Hills it is slight over 50 liters.

Palestinians are also discriminated against and receive lower amounts of water so settlers can receive much higher amounts on a per capita bases. Because they are discriminated against much of the time they have to seek water from private sources which gouge them,. They are already impoverished and this adds insult to injury. I have heard stories of Palestinians having to buy water from Settlers at inflated prices. The settlers get such a high proportion of the water resources they can have swimming pools and large fruit orchards.

There is a drought in the West Bank this summer and it is only going to get worse for Palestinians as the water proportioned to them decreases so Jewish settlers can maintain their water rich lifestyles and Israel can continue to receive the same level of water.