Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
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Online Publication Date: 03 Mar 2011

Continuing Conflict or Compromise? Water and Land in the Jordan Basin

Page Range: 70 – 95
DOI: 10.5555/arwg.11.1-2.x3440n67p0rr6877
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This paper considers water scarcity and competition between the various riparians in the vicinity of the generally semi-arid Jordan basin. Particular attention is focused on Israel and its increasing demands for water in the ongoing colonization of its peripheral regions. A necessary understanding of that colonization is afforded by our brief consideration of the “Land of Israel, ” which provides specific insights into the dominant and overarching Israeli psyche, relating on to the importance of its totemic space, Eretz Yisrael. The earlier cooperative water development options (dating to the late 1990s)—including the five possible pipeline projects: the Nile-Naqab, the Red-Dead, the Med-Dead, the so-called Peace Pipeline (Anatolia to Jordan basin and the Gulf), its variant SETNI, and the contentious Hisbani-Wazzini plans and desalination possibilities—are outlined. Broader development issues relating to economic development and water use are briefly introduced, as are several of the recent initiatives to attend to the deeper problems of this most sensitive region. The basic need for proper water initiatives within the region is to consider the Jordan an international drainage basin and to ensure its regulation by an overall body. At present, that appears to be a forlorn hope.

Cet article analyse la pénurie d'eau et la compétition entre les différents riverains du bassin-versant généralement semi-aride du Jourdain. Il s'intéresse particulièrement à Israël et à ses besoins croissants en eau pour la colonisation de ses régions périphériques. La compréhension préliminaire de cette colonisation est fournie par une brève étude d' “Eretz Yisrael”, la “Terre d'Israël”, qui permet de saisir la psyché dominante spécifiquement israélienne quant à l importance de son espace totémique. Les options de développement en coopération datant de la fin des années 1990 sont passées en revue, dont les cinq projets d'aqueducs possibles : Nil-Néguev, Mer Rouge- Mer Morte, Méditerranée-Mer Morte, l'Aqueduc de la paix (Anatolie-Bassin du Jourdain et le Golfe), sa variante entre la Turquie du sud-est et le nord d'Israël, et les plans contestés du Hasbani-Wazzani et les possibilités de désalinisation. Des questions plus larges autour du développement économique et de l utilisation de l eau sont brièvement discutées, comme le sont plusieurs initiatives récentes pour lutter contre les problèmes profonds de cette région sensible. La nécessité de véritables initiatives dans la région visant à considérer le Jourdain comme un bassin-versant international et de confier sa régulation à une instance supranationale. à l'heure actuelle, cela semble un bien mince espoir.

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