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

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

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