Palestine: building of a desalination plant in Hadera contested

A recent publication in the Al-Qud newspaper in Jerusalem has triggered comments from the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) on the building of a desalination plant in Hadera, criticizing both the Israeli and Palestine authorities. Israel has recently reconfirmed its intention to implement the decision of the Local Israeli Assembly for Organization and Building to give a piece of land from the Hadera area to build a desalination plant for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority. This decision was made based on a recommendation from the American, Israeli and Palestinian Joint Committee on Water. PWA states that the Palestinian side is unwilling to purchase water at such a high cost from sources that are on the Mediterranean Coast and Jordan River, knowing that this water in fact partially belongs to the Palestinians but is inaccessible for them. The Palestinian side has refused to discuss the issue in the tripartite meetings. PWA argues that Israel’s desalination plants do not deal with issue of Palestinian water rights.

Related news:

• Palestine, Gaza: US$ 25 million needed to restore water and sanitation services, Source Weekly, 06 Feb 2009
• Israel: lays claim to Palestine's water, Source Weekly, 02 June 2004

Contact: Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), Gaza, Palestine, info@pwa.ps, http://www.pwa.ps

Source: EMWIS, 16 Feb 2009

Keywords

• Middle East & North Africa
• Water supply - Water treatment
• Water resources management