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Abstract

Palestine, Jordan, and Israel are among the world’s most water short regions, and, increasingly, issues of water quantity are compounded with rapidly increasing issues of water quality. Though most of the larger rivers and aquifers are shared by at least two of these nations, some are not, and this chapter presents criteria from distinguishing shared and non-shared water, as only the former are subject to international management rules. In addition, special rules are needed for the Jordan River because existing treaties neglect the position of Palestine.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The specific numbers indicate that 96.6% of available water is being withdrawn in Israel, 92.6% in Palestine, and 91.8% in Jordan.

  2. 2.

    www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-s-sea-of-galilee-at-lowest-level-in-17-years-1-6632560.

  3. 3.

    www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-s-groundwater-levels-dropping-to-dangerous-lows-1.6445364.

  4. 4.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46161276.

  5. 5.

    http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/minister-hails-desalination-strategic-solution-water-scarcity-problem.

  6. 6.

    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-lake-kinneret-sees-greatest-winter-water-increase-in-five-years-and-it-s-not-done-1.7084353.

  7. 7.

    Here as elsewhere in this book, quotations are commonly taken from executive summaries of books or large reports because they are typically shorter and more succinct than wording in the full documents.

  8. 8.

    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/bad-trend-home-water-use-up-10-in-last-two-years-1.6045731. The ensuing plan to cope with serious droughts was approved by the Israeli cabinet on 10 June 2018, but only parts of it have been released to the public.

  9. 9.

    https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/AboutIsrael/Spotlight/Pages/Israel-s%20Chronic%20Water%20Problem.aspx.

  10. 10.

    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/09/drowning-waste-israeli-settlers-170916120027885.html.

  11. 11.

    The source of the information was said to be the Knesset Research and Information Centre, but this statement could not be verified by the authors. The Centre publishes only a few of its reports, which are mainly intended for members of the Knesset.

  12. 12.

    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4973638,00.html.

  13. 13.

    http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=knUV6Va108834859056aknUV6V.

  14. 14.

    http://www.gsi.gov.il/eng/?CategoryID=112&ArticleID=159.

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Correspondence to David B. Brooks .

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Brooks, D.B., Trottier, J., Giordano, G. (2020). Water Sources and Water Uses—Now and in the Future. In: Transboundary Water Issues in Israel, Palestine, and the Jordan River Basin. SpringerBriefs on Case Studies of Sustainable Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0252-1_2

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