Jordanian predicts Israel will start Mideast wars over water

November 9, 9:18 AMNY Israel Conflict ExaminerRichard Shulman

Previous Next

8 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NY Israel Conflict Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

“Dr. Ghazi Al-Rabab'ah, a professor of political science at the university of Jordan, stated Saturday that Israel's future wars against Arab countries would be over water resources.”  He forecast the first war to “be in the Jordan basin area in the Lebanese Shebaa farms,” and within “seven years against Egypt to control the Nile water.” 

”He added that Israel also steals Gaza water resources and sends salt
contaminated water from Tiberias lake to Gaza,” and “steals 350,000000 cubic meters of water from Litani river in Lebanon, noting that Israel rejects any
settlement with the Arabs which does not take into account the issue of sharing water supplies.”

”The professor also pointed out that Israel is one of the poorest countries in water resources in the world and its water supplies will run out in the coming years,
which portends that Israel will resort to the strategy of waging wars over
water recourses in other places.” 

Dr. Aaron Lerner points out that Israel is trying to resolve the problem by desalination  (www.imra.org.il, 11/8), purchases from Turkey, and more efficient usage.  Conservatives suggest charging for water at costs, instead of different prices for different classes.  They believe that the more extravagant uses for low income would be priced out.

Others have predicted wars over water, too.  Water is scarce in that whole desert region, including the professor’s country, Israel.  Israel didn’t make war over water, it made peace over water.  That is, in its peace agreement with Jordan, it agreed to give Jordan a specified quantity of water annually. 

The professor sounds sure of his accusations against Israel, but Israel never started wars against other countries, whereas Jordan started two against Israel.  Egypt has disputes with other riparian countries.  Some Arab countries have had disputes with Turkey.  Generally, international law holds that all the countries along a water course have the right to share in that water.  The professor’s accusations that Israel steals water don’t square with that.  What we do know is that both Syria and Lebanon have tried to cut off the flow of water to Israel.

Israel also has found Arabs in Judea-Samaria breaking the Oslo accords on water usage.  Those are the water thieves.

The accusation that Israel sends Gaza contaminated water from Lake Kinneret does not make sense.  Twice Israel refilled Gaza’s aquifer from which the Arabs over-drew and let get saline.  Lake Kinneret has better quality water than Israel’s coastal aquifer.  Note the professor’s lack of appreciation for Israel’s gratuity.  Nor does the professor observe that for political reasons, the P.A. has refused to use foreign funds on joint sewage projects that would protect P.a. sewage water from seeping into Israeli water supplies.

Perhaps the professor should admit that he has no direct line to the Israeli general staff, as he predicts which wars Israel would start and when.

For another accusation against Israeli water usage, click here