Palestinians Right to Water

Ari Bussel

A lecture Downtown Los Angeles by a self-declared “Palestinian from Palestine” was titled: Israel’s control of water as a tool of Apartheid and means of ethnic cleansing.” Following the talk, I was asked for my opinion. I replied: Nothing should surprise me any more. According to the speaker, America’s counterpart, Israel, is thirsting the “Palestinians” out of “their own” land.



There is much to learn from Israel about water: from reclamation to desalination methods, from agriculture in arid areas to existence in the desert. Israel has perfected over the last century age-old methods, devised new ones and has turned the desert into a blossoming Eden. Israel’s drip irrigation, for instance, has become a leading export to countries around the world: a simple, ingenious and highly effective method that benefits humanity.



The basic premise is simple: without water the Middle East cannot exist. Water, thus, is a resource that may lead to wars as its scarcity grows. Knowing this adds responsibility to everyone’s shoulders. Solutions are created neither by force nor by blame. Since water resources are shared and over-usage by one has major repercussions on one’s neighbors, cooperation and mutual respect are imperative. Israel thus has to deal with her neighbors, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.



The speaker had no intention to look at facts or figures. His goal was to bring about a boycott of Israel, its institutions and economy, and do it in whatever manner “speaks to the local population,” less humanitarian in nature, just political. I guess water is sexy enough to appeal to us, Southern Californians.



One must remember not to live beyond one’s means. This is different than being wasteful. As the population grows, pressures are exerted on already limited water supplies. Israel is employing various solutions, including bombarding clouds when conditions are ripe to induce rain; a new technology of “producing water from thin air” is currently being developed; and Israel has been very creative in using grey water to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables and to water lawns and vegetation in its cities.



For the speaker, reclaiming water is a form of Apartheid, exemplifying how using a serious subject matter can be twisted as a platform of propaganda for the purpose of attacking others. Good for the (Jewish) Israelis but not good enough for the Arabs, insulting even.



The Israelis face a 30% increase in water rates-equally applied to all, irrespective of one’s religion, skin color, political affiliation or economic status. The speaker tells it differently: rates are increased targeting only “his people.” The audience sits, astonished, and feels compelled to act against Israel. If only the truth were known.



Israel has connected Arab towns to its running water system and has introduced modern irrigation technologies to the area. Per capita water consumption in Arab-populated Judea and Samaria grew dramatically, along with a doubling in the population size, while it continues to drop among the Jewish population (by two thirds over the period from 1967 to 2008).



Rather than complain, one must focus on ways to conserve and invest in infrastructure and new technologies. Regrettably, the Arabs are too busy digging secret tunnels, building rockets and smuggling explosives to focus on basic needs of their people.



It is easy to come forward and cry, “Wolf, Wolf, Israel is guilty” although facts on the ground do not support any such allegations. It is easy to close one’s eyes when a sewage facility collapses because the Gazans were siphoning money off during its construction and stealing the materials from which it was supposed to have been built.



The damage will remain for decades to come. The disastrous results played well into their hands. Now they can claim – after causing the damage themselves – “90-95 per cent of its water is contaminated and unfit for human consumption. Effectively using common waterborne diseases as a propaganda weapon.”



Conveniently, a speaker arrives to cast blame on Israel for causing “further deterioration of the water and sanitation situation in Gaza, which has reached crisis point.” He demands “access to an equitable share of the shared water resources.”



He accuses Israel of “thirsting the Palestinians” just as she has allegedly deprived humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza. Despite the truth that convoys, hundreds of trucks long, crossed the border every day from Israel to Gaza, even as rockets were being aimed at Israel’s civilian populations, the speaker continues in his quest to attack Israel, damage its reputation and call for action against it.



Many of these daily convoys were turned back from within Gaza, during the height of Operation Cast Lead, due to the fact the international organizations’ warehouses were full to capacity because Hamas prevented the distribution of food and medical supplies or were stealing the items.



The “Palestinians” are using water as the new public relations tool to incite a Boycott of Israel. Be careful, those at the helm of the divestment efforts, lest your wishes come true. The “Palestinians” will not be able to survive on as little water as they did forty years ago. They have grown accustomed to the good life – life with Israel as their benefactor. If the faucet were to close, the devastation to them would be horrendous.