Abstract

The most important aquifer in the lands shared by Israelis and Palestinians is the Mountain (Yarqon-Tanninin) Aquifer, which has its main catchment area on the West Bank and then flows naturally under the Green Line (the pre-1967 border) and rises in Israeli territory. It is critical that the aquifer be managed carefully, something that would be difficult enough given the highly complex limestone-based hydrology of the beds, but that is even more difficult given the political history of the area. With the Peace Accord of September 1993, and the transfer of authority to the Palestinians to manage their own water systems, the need for some form of joint management was clear.

Phase I of this project looked at existing experience and models of international or inter-jurisdictional joint management, international law, etc. However, upon investigation, it was found that very few models exist -- and that Israelis and Palestinians do not necessarily have a common view on the value of those that do. This new phase of work will try to resolve these issues.

The second phase of the project is not conceptually different from the first but will build upon it. A series of workshops will be held on water rights, integrated management, etc. with each based on the commissioning of key working papers that will be reviewed by the participants. Between the workshops, staff will work to integrate the various aspects of aquifer management and analyze options by means of various physical (hydrological) and economic models.

Post-Project Summary

The project took the form of two workshops, the third and fourth in the series on Joint Management of Shared Aquifers. The third workshop (7-10 July 1996) focused on technical issues such as monitoring and data sharing, while the second focused on the definition of water rights and the principles of allocation. The proceedings of each were published separately. Based on the workshop discussions, modifications were made to the framework developed in Phase I (93-0027/001137) and a set of issues that need to be addressed as a prerequisite to its implementation were identified. The revised framework and sequence of actions necessary to implement it are advanced in the final report.

The framework suggests that from a narrow base, one of five strategies for a joint management regime should be chosen. The five strategies are aquifer protection, crisis management, efficient water use, public sector involvement and comprehensive-integrative management. As confidence in the structure grows, other tasks can be added, orientations changed or the scope expanded to include additional strategies. The proposed institutional structure would have three levels: a policy-making board representing a wide array of interests from both parties; a joint management authority composed of representatives of the Israeli Water Commissioner and the Palestinian Water Authority, responsible for the day-to-day tasks necessary to manage the aquifer; and joint technical units, the activities of which would change as the joint management structure evolves.

The implementation agenda advanced begins with steps to build confidence between the two parties, including adjusting operation of the Joint Water Committee (JWC), augmenting the water supply to the West Bank and data sharing. Then, water allocation principles have to be agreed upon. A water-cycle perspective for defining allocations and rights is advanced. Once allocation principles have been defined, the orientation of joint management structures should be chosen. In making this choice, decision-makers should consider the possible relationships between the different strategies in order to allow future generations to adapt the evolving structures to changing circumstances and policy preferences. This should be framed within a binding agreement and include a conflict- and disagreement-resolution mechanism (a suggestion for such a mechanism is put forward in the final report). Finally, the financial ramifications of joint management have to be addressed as part of the agreement setting up the joint management framework.

Recipient Institution(s)