Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment of the Palestinian–Israeli Water Situation
Publisher: Journal of Peacebuilding & Development
Author(s): Marwan Haddad
Date: 2014
Topics: Assessment, Cooperation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programming, Renewable Resources
Countries: Israel, Palestine
This paper examines and discusses the prolonged Palestinian–Israeli water conflict, taking into consideration recent formal and informal water negotiations and emphasising the future of water-based peacebuilding between the two sides. Sharing experience from the author's own water-related people-to-people work and in formal peace processes, it concludes by arguing that such efforts contribute to peacebuilding by closing the gaps in conflict-related understandings. It also argues the merits of developing and creating a Palestinian–Israeli Joint Water Authority (JWA). In particular, it proposes that such a joint institution should (1) minimise yesterday's ideology and politics, developing a future-oriented lens of practice, (2) develop and practise interdependency, and (3) create a context for the continued production of full equality and partnership rooted in international law and recognised practices. A five-element structure is proposed as guidance for future Palestinian-Israeli water-related peacebuilding.