The Agricultural Roots of Israel’s Water Crisis, by Prof. Hillel Shuval
It is illogical and immoral to dry up the urban parks, gardens and green areas, while exporting flowers grown with subsidized drinking water to Europe.
water
Expedition: Blue Planet Finds The End Of An Era and Oasis In Jordan's Azraq Settlement
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=057OMR_jkvE[/youtube] As we covered earlier in It’s The Water That Binds Us, in this video Alexandra Cousteau continues her mission Expedition: Blue Planet and interviews a local man from Jordan, Othman Mizra, whose father built a livelihood around a water oasis – Azraq – in Jordan. Now the water from the oasis is pumped to […]
The Security Barrier In Israel Affects Water Allocation in the West Bank, Finds Cousteau Team
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnCqX5Xn0UE[/youtube] Israelis need it to stay secure from terror attacks, but the Palestinians see it as a barrier to making peace, and getting their fair share of water and other resources. Alexandra Cousteau (who I spoke to while on her Expedition: Blue Planet in Israel) interviews an Arava Institute alum from the Palestinian Authority to […]
I interview Jacques Cousteau’s grand-daughter at the Dead Sea
She looks like him and was raised in an enviable way: her grandfather Jacques Cousteau (the legendary marine explorer we’ve written about here) taught Alexandra Cousteau how to dive at the young age of 7 and instilled in her a love for the water that covers two thirds of our planet. Now she’s giving back. […]
World Bank Report Recommends New, Equal Water-Sharing Regime Between Israel and the Palestinian Authority
The World Bank published a report yesterday recommending an immediate change in the water regime between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Coming at a particularly sensitive time, considering the region’s ever-worsening water crisis, the report, entitled Assessment of Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Development, concluded that “the joint governance rules and water allocations established under […]
Going On A Water Cequesta
It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it: cleaning up wastewater from industrial and agricultural operations, that is. A young Israeli company Cequesta is now open for business and has taken on the task of making America’s and the world’s waterways and businesses a whole lot cleaner. From cheese factories (yes even organic […]
Second International Conference on Water to Commence in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority
With the regional water crisis weighing so heavily on everyone’s minds, it’s no wonder that the Palestine Academy for Science and Technology and the Palestinian Water Authoirty have teamed up to host the 2nd International Conference on Water: Values and Rights. The conference, to be held in Ramallah from April 13-15, will bring together academics, […]
Lebanon Pours the Country's Sewage to the Sea Costing Millions and Harming the Environment
If those of us living in Israel think we have a problem with pollution and beach closures in the Mediterranean Sea, we should take a look on what’s happening north in Lebanon. A recent article in Beirut’s English language newspaper, the Lebanese Star, noted that pollution caused by both the public and private sectors is […]
Syria and Jordan's Wihdeh Dam Will Cut Israel's Water Needs Out of the Picture
Little publicity appears to have been made in Israel regarding a proposed joint project between Jordan and Syria to construct a dam across the Yarmouk River. The dam, known as the Wihdeh Dam, will be built on that part of the Yarmouk that is shared by the two countries before it reaches an area now […]
Middle East Countries Partner With Europe on Water Through EMWIS
(Countries along the Mediterranean Sea basin) Water policy people will like to know about this initiative: Most countries in what is known as the Mediterranean Sea basin have agreed to form a combined group to deal with issues dealing with water reserves for the region. Based on the Mediterranean Water Charter, adopted in Rome in […]
Turkey Water Exports To Iraq Will Double Thanks To Biblical Rivers From "Garden of Eden"
Iraqi boys walk along the Euphrates River New water cooperation could be a new beginning for tensions between Turkey and Iraq: Turkey has promised to give neighboring Iraq and Syria a larger share of water from both Tigress and Euphrates rivers; it was announced by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Gul, on a state visit to […]
EcoBaladi Sprouts Organic Vegetables From the West Bank Valley of Thorns (Wadi Fuqin)
(Abu Ibrahim, 53, in a field of fava beans. Photo: Daniella Cheslow) One of the most compelling parts of the West Bank is its Biblical landscape, shaped by the small villages and terraced farm plots that dot the rolling hillsides. Yesterday, I saw that landscape up close on a visit to Wadi Fuqin (Valley […]
Our Friends From "Friends of the Earth Middle East" Get $750,000 From Skoll For Water Work
EcoPeace / Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) today announced it is the recipient of a three-year, $750,000 award from the Skoll Foundation to expand its cross border community based activities and deepen its organizational capacity to advance water and peace issues in the Middle East. “In the midst of conflict, we have produced […]
Less Government Bureaucracy Would Solve Israel's Water Crisis
Two interesting articles were published in the past week about Israel’s water shortage and possible solutions. In the first one, “Drops in the Bucket,” which appeared in Haaretz, the article discusses how Israelis can expect water rations and increased fees for water in the near future, like the inhabitants of countries such as Cyprus and […]
Video on Israel-Jordan Water War On Jordan TV
Clean water, and water resources dominate the news over here in the Middle East. Recently Green Prophet reported on Israel’s “water” compensation to Jordan, and the Jordan crisis dealing with radioactive water. This video segment from Al-Arabiya offers a Jordanian view on the water story, or “war” as they report, between Jordan and Israel.