Comments on: Water Security in the Middle East? From the Desk of Israel's Water Commission

By: Green Lebanon » Lebanon’s Severe Pollution Contaminates Cheese and Meat – Watch What You Eat!

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:32:36 +0000

[…] example the Litani River, Lebanon’s longest river which is used to irrigate the Bekaa valley, is heavily polluted with […]

By: Lebanon’s Severe Pollution Contaminates Cheese and Meat – Watch What You Eat! | Green Prophet

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:49:30 +0000

[…] example the Litani River, Lebanon’s longest river which is used to irrigate the Bekaa valley, is heavily polluted with […]

By: JTR

JTR — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:55:08 +0000

Peacefully reduce the human population and there will be plenty of water for everyone everywhere. But if the various populations continue to grow, there will be no more water, but there will be an ecocidal catastrophe.

By: Water Security in the Middle East: from the Desk of Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection | Green Prophet

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:57:56 +0000

[…] Shimon Tal 3. Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East 4. Read our interview with Israel’s Water Commission 5. Interview with Eli Ronen, chairman of Mekorot 6. Interview with Ranaan Borel, water consultant […]

By: Arad’s Drone Flies By and Hones In On Leaky Pipes | Green Prophet

Arad’s Drone Flies By and Hones In On Leaky Pipes | Green Prophet — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:57:45 +0000

[…] More on the Israeli water industry from the mouths of the experts: 1. All the Water in Israel: Interviews with Government, Analysts and Researchers 2. Interview with Israel’s past water commissioner, Shimon Tal 3. Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East 4. Read our interview with Israel’s Water Commission […]

By: Israel Water Series: Interview With Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin | Green Prophet

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:59:36 +0000

[…] Shimon Tal 3. Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East 4. Read our interview with Israel’s Water Commission 5. Interview with Eli Ronen, the Chairman of Mekorot 6. Interview with Ranaan Borel (SPNI) on […]

By: muntherjhaddadin

muntherjhaddadin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:45:03 +0000

Comments by Dr. Munther J HaddadinFormer Chairman of the Jordan Valley AuthorityFormer Minister of Water and Irrigation- JordanQ1. Israel had negotiations with Turkey in the past to transport freshwater from the Sihon River. The plan fell through and Israel opted for sea water desalination to increase its water resources. In the Middle East Multilateral peace talks Israel refrained from subscribing to any regional water project if it delivered water to it from the outside, especially if it has to traverse Arab lands. More confidence building is mandatory to convince Israel to be a party to regional water projects.If Israel, as Mr. Shimon Tal says,is willing to negotiate cooperation with Jordan and the PA with respect to water from Cyhon, Turkey, passing through Israel, a better idea yet is to build pipelines from Turkish sources through Syria on to Jordan and PA and Israel (if Israel is convinced to subscribe). Jordan presented a regional cooperation water project to the third Multilateral session on water resources held at the U.S State Department in September 1992. It is worth tabling now and negotiated.If Tal's idea on Israel's role is to serve as transit medium then Jordan and the PA can think of another option: water from Turkey to share with Syria and parts of Saudi Arabia. But if Israel is to come in as a partner, the picture becomes more attractive to the entire world and the best of the available options can be adopted.Q2, Q3:I note that Tal's answer evades the question which is about ISRAEL's additional supplies. Tal responds with the concern over the Middle East!It should be stressed here, as indeed it was stressed back in the indirect negotiations (1953-1955) conducted by the U.S Presidential Envoy, Eric Johnston, and his team, that the Litani is a totally Lebanese River that awaits development to benefit the poor Lebanese south. Currently a portion of it, released from the Qaroun Dam for power generation, is diverted to the Awwali River from which additional supply for municipal and industrial uses as far north as Beirut itself is past the drawing board stage. National reconciliation and regional peace are key to enable Lebanon to develop not only the Litani, but also to rehabilitate and repair the destruction Lebanon was dealt during the Israeli incursions and air attacks on one hand and the domestic instability on the other, and to proceed on the economic and social development trail that the Lebanese have once excelled in.Q4.Again, the answer ducks the question which focused on Groundwater in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. While I commend the steps taken to avert serious damage due to droughts and overuse, I hope that the same measures are implemented in the territories occupied by Israel. Although it may sound as political, one should note the tresspassing that Israeli colonies in the Occupied West Bank are allowed to make on Palestinian water in the Eastern Aquifer, the Northern Aquifer and also upstream from the Gaza Aquifer. While the colonies are allowed plentiful supplies, the rightful owners of the land and water (the Palestinians) are denied such privileges.(To the Editor: telling the truth and criticising Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian territories should not be construed as hatred for Israel. If raising the flag on Israeli “off-side is hatred then what do you call anti-semetism? As Editor I think patience is needed aand also tolerence”Q5.Israel should be commended on the advances it has made in water technology and wastewater treatment. The reuse of wastewater in irrigation started in the region in 1968 (Jordan) and 1974 (Israel). It has since propagated to Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, and others.It should be stressed that it is unfair to compare the countries surrounding Israel with Israel's capabilities in terms of both human resources quality and GDP. What Israel could achieve in science and technology is remarkable, but that should not shade our eyes from seeing the injustice that has been done unto the native Palestinians and on the surrounding countries that hosted scores of Palestinian refugees. The genrousity that Israel was accorded by the Western nations and the transfer of technology therefrom to Israel speaks highly of the raapid absorption of technology and the innovations that Israeli scientists added therafter.Let us just not mix carrots and ornages! Each chapter of the region's modern history should be examined on its own first and then in combination with the other chapters.

By: muntherjhaddadin

muntherjhaddadin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:45:03 +0000

By: Interview With Eli Ronen, Chairman of Mekorot, Israel’s National Water Company | Green Prophet

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:13:09 +0000

[…] from our water series: Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East Read our interview with Israel’s Water Commission Interview with Israel’s past water commissioner, Shimon Tal All the Water in Israel: […]

By: Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East | Green Prophet

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:53:08 +0000

[…] conflict over water. Today we ask Bromberg 5 questions, the same questions we’ve asked Israel’s Water Commission office, and before that Shimon Tal, the past water commissioner of […]