WATER RIGHTS West Bank
Control of water sources and infrastructure: Israel maintains comprehensive control over all water resources in the occupied territories, including surface and underground sources, which it seized after the 1967 war.
Seizure of resources: Since 1967, Israeli military orders have prohibited Palestinians from constructing or maintaining water infrastructure without a permit, which human rights groups report are nearly impossible to obtain. Israel has seized control of most of the Mountain Aquifer, the primary source of groundwater for the West Bank.
Settlement priority: Water from West Bank aquifers is diverted to supply Israeli settlements, which consume a disproportionate share compared to Palestinian communities. Some wells owned by Israeli settlers extract more than half of the total groundwater, forcing Palestinians to rely on expensive and unreliable water tankers.
Obstruction of projects: Israel has been accused of stalling or blocking Palestinian water projects, including deep well drilling and desalination plants. This is often done through the Joint Water Committee, established by the Oslo Accords, where Israel is reported to have used its veto power to prioritize Israeli settlement projects.
Infrastructure destruction: The Israeli military and civil administration have reportedly destroyed Palestinian water infrastructure, such as rainwater cisterns and pipes.
Posted by Irv Himelblau for the Palestine Israel Justice Group