WATER SCARCITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST: ISRAEL-JORDAN-PALESTINE COLLABORATION PERSPECTIVES

The Israeli climate conditions are varied between desert in the south to subtropical in the north and mild Mediterranean in the center. More than 95% of the Israeli natural water resources are utilized. Rain distribution over Israel varied between 700 - 1300 mm/y in the north, 400 – 700 in the coastal zone and below 100 mm/y in the south. Total annual rain volume on Israel is – 7.9 bcm, of which only <2 bcm are available as underground and surface resources: 70% of rain waters are evapo – transpirated, 5% as runoffs, and 25% penetrate into the underground aquifers. Total water supply– 2.11 bcm of which 1.31 bcm from underground sources, 0.55 bcm - Kinneret – Jordan system, 0.05 – floods storage and 0.2 – recycled; 64% is dedicated to agriculture, 6% -to industry and 30% are supplied at drinking quality standards of which >55% are taken from Lake Kinneret. The only open options for water resources enhancement are desalination and recycling. The combined conditions of natural ecology and water resources, regional politics, industrial development and cultural aspects of Israel and its neighbor countries initiated a situation where international cooperation is vital. The severely deteriorated ecology of the Dead sea, drinking water scarcity in Jordan and Israel, stimulated three major options for collaborative projects: The northern Project of desalinated Mediterranean waters convey via the Israeli National Water Carrier through Lake Kinneret to be supplied to Jordan, and Palestine; the Red Sea – Dead Sea Canal where transfer of about 2 bcm from the Red sea will be utilized for energy production and desalination. About 0.85 bcm of desalinated waters will be supplied to Jordan and the rest will be dumped into the Dead sea to enhance water level increase. Alternative project is discussed where drinking water supply in Israel will be fully covered by Mediterranean waters desalination and the Kinneret south dam will be mostly open to release all winter floods through the Jordan river to the Dead Sea. The advantage of such a management is the long term prevention of eutrophication in Lake Kinneret and revival of the Jordan River section between Lake Kinneret and the Dead Sea together with ensuring drinking water supply to the three countries involved.