199
which represents a branch of the Israeli Defence Ministry. This required approval
delays necessary projects as it is a long bureaucratic process (The Knesset 2011 ). As
a consequence, the Palestinians are not able to develop their water resources or
projects in the desired way.
But also the Palestinians denied approval to some of the proposed projects, as
they would serve some of the interests of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The Palestinian side categorically turns down any cooperation with the Israeli
settlements.
1
In fact, the JWC in its present form and under the present political circumstances
is not an effective instrument to derive solutions and settle confl icts for the most
important water management problems of the West Bank, which are the old and
insuffi cient potable water distribution network, the problem of not approved water
abstractions, the lacking sewage collection and treatment and the pollution of the
streams, wadis and groundwater sources. Fragmented institutions, limited governance due to the occupation and the split between the different Palestinian fractions
resulted in the lack of environmental planning instruments, capacities, legislation
and enforcement in Palestine. The political lock-in situation between Israel and
Palestine concerning the peace process and the power asymmetries between the two
parties has also led to an obstruction of the management of the shared water
resources. Israel can be criticised for discriminatory water practices (Kislev 2008 ).
According to Kislev, Palestinians receive only 60 % of the water share that Jewish
settlements receive, and if water losses are taken into account, the fi gure might even
be less.
13.2.5 The Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance
Study Programme
Even though the Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Programme under the
World Bank represents neither a treaty nor an accord among the three riparians of
the Lower Jordan, it represents a fi rst common action within the institution of the
World Bank between Israel, Jordan and the Palestine territories. We can draw some
important lessons from the study programme both with concern to the relations
between the riparians but also with concern to the planning process of the RSDS
Conveyance Project as an example of a future MWEP.
As part of the Jordan–Israel Peace Treaty negotiations, the two parties conceived
a concept to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. As the scope of the
project requires international funding, the concept had to be agreed by the Palestinian
Authorities. This was done by the submission of a jointly signed letter to the World
Bank dated 9 May 2005 requesting to coordinate donor fi nancing and the manage1 Interview on 2 January 2014 with A. M. Hindi (Palestinian National Authority, Palestinian Water
Authority, Director General National Water Council’s Unit) and R. A. El Sheikh (Palestinian Water
Authority, Deputy Chairman)
13 Water Resources, Cooperation and Power Asymmetries in the Water Management…
which represents a branch of the Israeli Defence Ministry. This required approval
delays necessary projects as it is a long bureaucratic process (The Knesset 2011 ). As
a consequence, the Palestinians are not able to develop their water resources or
projects in the desired way.
But also the Palestinians denied approval to some of the proposed projects, as
they would serve some of the interests of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The Palestinian side categorically turns down any cooperation with the Israeli
settlements.
1
In fact, the JWC in its present form and under the present political circumstances
is not an effective instrument to derive solutions and settle confl icts for the most
important water management problems of the West Bank, which are the old and
insuffi cient potable water distribution network, the problem of not approved water
abstractions, the lacking sewage collection and treatment and the pollution of the
streams, wadis and groundwater sources. Fragmented institutions, limited governance due to the occupation and the split between the different Palestinian fractions
resulted in the lack of environmental planning instruments, capacities, legislation
and enforcement in Palestine. The political lock-in situation between Israel and
Palestine concerning the peace process and the power asymmetries between the two
parties has also led to an obstruction of the management of the shared water
resources. Israel can be criticised for discriminatory water practices (Kislev 2008 ).
According to Kislev, Palestinians receive only 60 % of the water share that Jewish
settlements receive, and if water losses are taken into account, the fi gure might even
be less.
13.2.5 The Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance
Study Programme
Even though the Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Programme under the
World Bank represents neither a treaty nor an accord among the three riparians of
the Lower Jordan, it represents a fi rst common action within the institution of the
World Bank between Israel, Jordan and the Palestine territories. We can draw some
important lessons from the study programme both with concern to the relations
between the riparians but also with concern to the planning process of the RSDS
Conveyance Project as an example of a future MWEP.
As part of the Jordan–Israel Peace Treaty negotiations, the two parties conceived
a concept to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. As the scope of the
project requires international funding, the concept had to be agreed by the Palestinian
Authorities. This was done by the submission of a jointly signed letter to the World
Bank dated 9 May 2005 requesting to coordinate donor fi nancing and the manage1 Interview on 2 January 2014 with A. M. Hindi (Palestinian National Authority, Palestinian Water
Authority, Director General National Water Council’s Unit) and R. A. El Sheikh (Palestinian Water
Authority, Deputy Chairman)
13 Water Resources, Cooperation and Power Asymmetries in the Water Management…