Israel Water Crisis - Part 3

This UNICEF video and the following, gives insight in the water situation in the Gaza stripe.

Source

Israel Water Crisis - Part 2

Water Conflict between Israel, Jordan and Palestina:

There is a lack of fresh water in all three countries. The sea of Galilee is the primary source of surface water in the region. 

Israel pumps water out of the lake to supply the dry south of the country with fresh water. 

Palestina is cut from the sea of Galilee and the Jordan river. The people have to rely on ground water and on additional water supply, which is provided by Israel. This gives Israel direct control over how much water Palestina gets.

In Jordan people have access to water only once a week.

West Bank Water Conflict:

Even though there should be enough aquifer in the region to supply water, Palestinien missmanagement led to water shortage. This is why Palestina is dependend on Israel in terms of water. 10% of the population have to buy water from water trucks, which are run by Israeli water companies.

Israel Water Crisis – Part 1

This video has a very dramatic undertone, but it gives a first insight in what is happening in Israel.

• The sea of Galilee is drying up
• Jordan River is drying up
• sea water is poisoning underground aquifers 
  
  
  This has consequences for farmers as well as citizens in bigger cities.

Source

As the following video indicates, on top of the above mentioned problems, the nation has been suffering from drought for the last couple of years, so there is even less water available. The Israli population has to lower its water consumption.

Maude Barlow: Do You Foresee Wars Over Water?

In this video Maude Barlow answers the question if she foresees war over water. She is the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and Senior Advisor on Water to the President of  the United Nations General Assembly. 

She says that struggles over water are already happening on different scales: between people, between states, between nations. Moreover, big cooperation seem to play a key role in the disputes. For example, she names Bechtel in Bolivia and Nestle in The Philippines.

I find her observation that the struggles will be between those of us who believe in water as a public service, who see it as a human right, and those who treat it is a commodity interesting.

Disputes over water are also likely to happen within the United States, as she talks about several states that already argue over water.

The Difference Between War and Conflict 2.0

I found an other differentiation between war and conflict on the website differencebetween.com.

In brief:

Difference Between War and Conflict

• War is intentional, disclosed, wide spread and long duration armed conflict between countries.

• War requires mobilization of troops and use of arms and ammunition to destroy enemy targets.

• Conflict is disagreement between parties where parties perceive threat to their interests and needs

• Conflict can be between individuals, communities, or even countries

• There are mechanisms to resolve conflicts but when they fail, conflicts can give rise to full scal wars (when involving countries)

Read more: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-war-and-vs-conflict/#ixzz2kwJgl39r

The Difference Between War and Conflict

At the beginning of this blog I raised the question if there will be war over water one day. This question implies that up to now there haven't been any wars over water. Nevertheless water war is a common term. I think it is important in this context to distinguish between the terms. When can one talk about war? What is the difference between a war and an (armed) conflict? It is important to know this to rate disputes about water.

The free dictionary defines “war” as:

a. A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.

b. The period of such conflict. 
c. The techniques and procedures of war; military science.

When I type in “armed conflict” the dictionary redirects me to “war”.

The site also defines “conflict” as:

1. A state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war.
2. A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash

It is difficult to see the differences between war and conflict within these definitions. A war is armed. A conflict maybe not? But a conflict can be war.

I am wondering what are right evidences to measure war. The number of people killed? The weapon used? The period of time?

Water Wars 1: Scarcity - Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Quotes from the video:

“What if the next war is not fought over geopolitical dominance or ideology? What if the next war is a desperate struggle over water?”

→ In this context I am wondering what exactly is the difference between war and conflict. Has there been real wars over water or “only” conflicts? Where is the boundary?

“Today, water scarcity is common in some of the political most unstable regions. Water crisis are ongoing in the Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian countries, such as Israel, Egypt, Pakistan.”

→ I will do some research on the conflicts in Israel, Egypt or Pakistan.

“Some institutions argue that privatization may be the best way for developing countries to require the infrastructure necessary to supply clean water. This approach has mixed results, leading to social unrest in the local because the population can not afford the prices set by private utility companies.”

→ Why are there local oppositions against water privatization? What is the story behind this?

In the next day I will try to find some answers to the questions the YouTube video raises.