FROM SOCIALIST KIBBUTZ TO FREE MARKET ECONOMY: WHAT COUNTS FOR ISRAEL’S WATER MIRACLE?

Year 2021, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 35 - 43, 15.01.2021

Cemre Tepecik

Abstract

This paper aims to adequately summarize the integral components to understand the state of water allocation in Israel. To do so, it first discusses the biblical roots of water and what it meant for the early Zionist settlements in the region. Once establishing the basis for the culture surrounding water for Israelites; it emphasizes on the importance of water in national security and state building in Israel. It later discusses how these national security and state building concerns led to the current state of geographical borders. Presenting the current layout of the Occupied Palestiinian Territories (OPTs) and their administrative mechanisms; this section concludes by listing the main water issues faced in Israel and disputes with the OPT’s and the Kingdom of Jordan over shared water resources. Listing allocation, politicization and privatization of water as the main issues; following sections elaborate on these topics. In doing so, it first lays out the government initiatives, policies and partnerships constructed to tackle these issues. The paper subsequently examines how all the aforesaid tools led to the advancement of the Israeli WaterTech industry with a specific focus on its prevailing sub-sectors. Namely, desalination, wastewater management , water network management , irrigation and finally water safety and security.

Keywords

israel, private sector development, water allocation, water governance

References

• Corradin, C. (2016). Israel: Water as a tool to dominate Palestinians. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/israel-water-tool-dominate-palestinians-160619062531348.html
• Dare, L., & Evans, M. (2017). Understanding water governance: the case of Australia’s Murray-darling basin. Policy Studies, 38(5), 411-417.
• EcoPeace (2018) Israeli Water Diplomacy and National Security Concerns. Retrieved from https://ecopeaceme.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Water_Diplomacy.pdf
• Everything you need to know about Areas A,B and C. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.welcometopalestine.com/article/areas-a-b-c-explained-west-bank-israel-gaza-palestine/
• Klawitter, S. (2007). Water as a Human Right: The Understanding of Water Rights in Palestine. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 23(2), 303-327.
• Lipchin, C. (2007). Integrated water resources management in the Middle East. Dortrecht: Springer.
• Morag, N. (2001). Water, Geopolitics and State Building: The Case of Israel. Middle Eastern Studies, 37(3), 179-198.
• OECD (2011), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Israel 2011. Paris: OECD Publishing.
• OECD (2019), Trends and Drivers of Agri-environmental Performance in OECD Countries. Paris: OECD Publishing.
• Rosenthal, E., & Sabel, R. (2009). Water and Diplomacy in the Jordan River Basin. Israel Journal Of Foreign Affairs, 3(2), 95-115.
• Selby, J. (2005). The Geopolitics of Water in the Middle East: Fantasies and Realities. Third World Quarterly, 26(2), 329-349. Shuval, H. I., & Dwiek, H. (2007). Water resources in the Middle East: The Israeli-Palestinian water issues: From conflict to cooperation. Berlin: Springer.
• Siegel, S. M. (2015). Let there be water: Israel's solution for a water-starved world. New York: Thomas Dunne Books/ St. Martin's Press.
• Watertech Highlights. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startupnationcentral.org/sector/watertech/