Water War: Palestinians want more water from Israel | Business and Economic Affairs

Ramallah, Staff West Bank – While Palestinians are suffering from water shortages during the summer, illegal Israeli refugees have more than just enough to fill their baths, irrigate their crops, and wash their cars.

Black and white water tanks are found on the roofs of Palestinian houses across cities and towns in the West Bank, to fill them with tap water that is dry for several weeks.

In contrast, such tanks are rarely seen in neighboring villages because water is always available and is not shut off due to “shortage”.

Israeli authorities have refused to issue permits to Palestinian water officials to operate freely in areas known as C and under Israeli security, even to dig additional wells or install reinforcement pumps.

Israel is directly controling 85% of West Bank’s water reserves and has a say in all other concerns, Palestinian officials told Al Jazeera. Palestinian officials are still demanding permits from Israel to dig more wells in the West Bank to meet the demand for more water.

Adel Yassin, director-general of Planning Planning at the Palestine Water Authority, told Al Jazeera Israeli water company Mekorot that provides residential areas in charge of 42 wells, 34 of which are located in the Jordan Valley.

“The problem is not the lack of water but the way our work manages water,” Yassin said.

“We want to drill new wells in the West Bank to increase the amount of water available and not to be under Israeli rule, because water is one of the foundations of stability and liberation, and every waterless state is a world without control.”

‘Drink once in 15 days’

Palestinian authorities have recently called on Israel to increase its water supply. The Israelites replied that construction was not ready to go ahead. However, it did offer more – in return for more money.

“From the summer of 2018 until now, there are villages that receive water only once every 15 days. This summer we are facing a bigger water crisis than in the past and we need to address it,” said Bassam Sawalhi, an engineer at Jerusalem Water Undertaking. which derives water from Israel and makes for itself about 400,000 Palestinians in 56 Regions.

However, the volume of daily drinking is 60,000-65,000 cubic meters of water during the summer of Palestine, while the Jerusalem Water Undertaking is only 53,000 cubic meters per day for its customers.

“The number of governments in Jerusalem and Ramallah has doubled, and the demand for water has increased more than ever before,” Sawalhi said.

He also said that this summer the Israeli water company Mekorot has reduced its supply of water to 35,000 cubic meters per day from 38,000 cubic meters a year ago.

The 3,000 cubic meter difference “was relocated to villages near Ramallah, and they do not care that Ramallah is thirsty. The important thing is that the areas will enjoy all the water they need,” Sawalhi told Al Jazeera.

“This is our water that steals and sells us,” Sawalhi said.

Bassam Sawalhi says the demand for water has increased more than ever before [Mohammed Najib/Al Jazeera]

Relying on mobile tanks

Jerusalem Water is making 10 million shekels ($ 3m) from its rehabilitation budget and rehabilitating water wells, upgrading old networks, and installing pumps. But still it is not found anywhere.

“The water cut off for a week, but in the summer the delivery time can be between 15-25 days,” said Ali Khassib, chief of Aroura council, a village near Ramallah.

“I could not sleep because of the constant conversation with so many angry people. We tried to complain to the government of Ramallah and the Jerusalem Water Undertaking, but in the end the people wanted to take water, not for the sake of humility. So they have to buy water through freight tanks when the cost of 250 liters of water is $ 61. ”

Mohammad Abu Khater owns a truck that sells clean water to Palestinians in the village of Ain Arik near Ramallah.

“The water shortage crisis starts in April and continues until November each year as we are actively selling water for houses, bars and restaurants. But this year the water crisis is much stronger and stronger than in previous years, “Abu Khater told Al Jazeera.

Hanna Shamiya, 38, from Bethlehem, also owns a water truck business: “This summer the demand for water is much higher than ever before, and because of the coronavirus epidemic, more people need to be kept clean and in a sterile family planning system.”

Workers fill their truck at Ein Erik’s water well [Mohammed Najib/Al Jazeera]

‘Palestinian Authority’ did

Bassam Rayan, 34, is a supervisor of five houses in the Ramallah area with about 60 houses.

“Every day I receive between five and six calls from people who have running water in their homes for more than three days. Even on my own, I have no water at home right now. I advise them to buy it [personal] water jars. ”

The Coalition for the State of Israel (COGAT), the Palestinian Authority, told Al Jazeera that it was the Palestinian government in Ramallah that was responsible for providing water to its people.

“According to the treaties, the Palestinian Authority provided water to the Palestinian people in [the occupied West Bank], “Atero COGAT.

“In addition to the PA, Israel also provides 76 million cubic meters of water annually, through 200 connections – through the Government also providing water to Palestinian consumers.”

Secret tanks are being installed on the roofs of Ramallah houses to provide much-needed water [Mohammed Najib/Al Jazeera]