Apartheid water solution not for us

WITH reference to Rodney Mazinter’s letter on Tuesday, I quote: “I found that in the entire world there is only one country – which has not only solved its water problems but has a surplus of water. And it shares its success with all who ask for advice.”

The advice is as follows: In 1967 Israel seized control of all water resources in the territories it occupied in retaining exclusive control of water between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, thus utilising water as it deems fit ignoring the needs of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The right to water and sanitation is a fundamental human right as enshrined in international conventions of which Israel is a signatory.

Under the 1995 Oslo Agreement Israel retains control of 80% of the water resources pumped from aquifers and the West Bank, 20%. This was for a period of five years. Despite the expiry term, Israel continues enforcing this clause and places further obstacles resulting in lengthy delays of drillings in the eastern basin of the mountain aquifer forcing Palestinians to acquire water from a private Israeli company, Mekorot, at prices it can ill-afford.

The water is supplied via link-ups which traverse Palestinian land illegally occupied by Jewish settlers. A third of it is lost due to ageing infrastructure as Israel refuses permits for repairs. In the summer months, Palestinians suffer an acute shortage of water for days and weeks as illegal settlements receive preferential treatment.

Worse off are communities who are compelled to purchase water from private contaminated tankers.

A 2013 UN survey identified 180 such communities comprising a population of 30 000 people living in Area C. The cisterns and springfed pools have been destroyed and access to existing sources blocked. Water consumption has been reduced to 20 litres a day.

Israel considers water as its exclusive property for its own needs and those of its settlers and surely this cannot be a solution to the water crisis at home.