The Middle East from 1960 to the Present, Part 2

Question 1: Explain the role of water resources in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Answer 1: There are not many significant water resources within Israel itself. For example, only one source of the Jordan River, the Dan River, is located in Israel, and the Jordan River itself borders the West Bank (occupied territory). Israelis uses the Jordan River and aquifers located both in Israel and in the West Bank. From an Israeli perspective, the state needs water, and it has used technology to make water from such sources available. For some Palestinians, Israeli use of West Bank water amounts to theft. Per person, Israelis use much more water than Palestinians. Also, Israelis control Palestinian access to water, as Israel controls building of wells, travel to wells, and water infrastructure. This leads to Palestinian resentment, contributing to Palestinian-Israeli tensions. Water is a significant issue in establishing the borders of a Palestinian state, as neither Palestinians nor Israelis wish to lose access to West Bank aquifers.

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Question 2: Describe how the course of the Euphrates River affects relations between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

Answer 2: The Euphrates originates in Turkey and flows through Syria and into Iraq. This means that although Syria and Iraq are dependent on the Euphrates for water, their access to that water is vulnerable to any actions Turkey might decide to dam the river or restrict its flow. With growing demand for agriculture, industry, and an increased population, there is some question whether the Euphrates can supply enough water for all three nations. Their competing claims sometimes lead to tension; plans in Turkey to divert the water and fill reservoirs potentially lessen the water available for Syria and Iraq. Syria and Iraq protested Turkey’s decision to fill the reservoir behind the Ataturk Dam in the 1990s. More recently, the seven dams between Syria and Turkey limit the water that flows into Iraq; together with a drought, this has led to withered crops, dried-up marshes, and other negative effects in Iraq.

Question 3: Explain why it is sometimes said that water, not oil, is likely to be a source of future conflict in the Middle East.

Answer 3: Water resources in the Middle East are scarce. This alone contributes to potential conflict, as more people and greater demand for water for drinking, cleaning, agriculture, and industry mean that more people in the region are competing for an inherently limited resource. Another issue is that most of the water available to Arab nations originates outside those nations themselves. For example, the Nile River – on which Egypt very strongly depends – flows from the Sudan, a nation with a mix of Arab and non-Arab people. Much of the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates originate in Turkey, although they flow through Syria and Iraq. This means that the water supply of those nations is uniquely vulnerable, and often those nations must negotiate to secure adequate water. Use of the Jordan River is disputed between Syria, Jordan, and Israel. Another source of contention is Israeli use of West Bank aquifers.

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