Arab-Israeli Region Is One in Which Water

¶ … Arab-Israeli region is one in which water is a critical problem, and being able to get access to clean, safe water on a regular basis is one element of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. While there may be serious, conflicting views on political and religious issues, along with many other aspects of the way people in the various areas live their lives, it is no secret that they all have to work together if everyone is going to have enough water to enjoy. A report in 2010 indicated that there were a number of challenges with ensuring that everyone in the region received enough clean water for drinking, irrigation, and other needs (Schneider, 2012). In order to attempt to combat that, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine all have water departments who are looking into working with one another. Without that level of cooperation, there will be numerous people in those areas without water. Despite their differences, the people in those countries all deserve clean water to drink.

The most alarming issue with the water in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan is that there simply is not enough of it. The water tables were much higher in the past, but now the groundwater is disappearing (Schneider, 2012). Part of that comes from the drought that has plagued many areas of the world, and part of it comes from how people are using up the water more than they used to (Schneider, 2012). Populations are growing, and that is causing more of a burden on the water supply. Since water is a finite resource, especially in times of drought, the levels of groundwater have been slowly but steadily falling over time (Schneider, 2012). That was not much of a problem until recently, when it was discovered that the level of water needed and the level of water available were alarmingly different. Something clearly has to be done, in order to ensure there is enough water in these countries and the surrounding areas for future generations.

There have been efforts made to combat the water challenges, some of which have been undertaken individually, and others that have been collaborative in nature. Both are good options, depending on how well the countries can work together and whether they have the resources on their own to do something about the lack of water in their area of the world. Working with one another has never been a strong point of these regions, but there are some things that can bring people together who would not otherwise get along. Having clean water is one of those things, for most individuals. In Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, there are water treatment plants and other facilities that do their best to provide plenty of safe, clean water to the residents of those areas. These plants generally do a good job, but they could be larger and better equipped (Schneider, 2012). Individually, the water ministers of these regions are working on making sure the water treatment facilities remain strong, and that they work well to accommodate the growth of the population that has been taking place and will continue in the future (Schneider, 2012).

There is a high level of dedication to reducing the amount of water that is wasted in each of the three areas, because that water could have been used to help someone who really needed it (Schneider, 2012). When water is wasted, it does not just harm the person or family who is allowing it to go to waste. It also damages the infrastructure and surrounding areas, because other people may have been in desperate need of that water. The more that is wasted, the less that will be available for anyone else to use (Schneider, 2012). That has been an ongoing problem for the area. It is difficult to say that enough water will be provided for everyone, but then to also say that people must be careful with how much they use. Asking that they are careful with their usage implies that there is not enough.

That idea also does not provide for outside help or influence, which is why collaborative efforts also matter. The three regions have water ministers that have formed a kind of task force to improve water accessibility and quality for everyone in the area (Schneider, 2012). That is good news for everyone in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, because they all deserve to have clean water no matter what kinds of differences they have with one another. When they are able to set aside their differences and form a team that can help provide better water resources for all of their citizens, that goes a long way toward protecting life. It can also help the areas have more faith in and understanding of one another, because they were willing to help each other out with a basic human need. That is not to say that everyone in the areas will feel appreciative of what the other regions are doing for them, but that the issue of water is valuable enough to be worth working together. By having small treatment plants built, and by working together to learn about the plants and keep them running, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan all help provide their people with what they need (Schneider, 2012).

There is more that could be done, but it is very difficult to get a proper collaboration moving forward when people do not agree on the serious, fundamental principles of life. Religion, politics, and other significant and divisive issues can tear people apart, even if they would have otherwise gotten along with one another. That is the situation between Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, and one that has been ongoing for a number of years. With that in mind, collaboration that goes deeper than what has already been seen is going to be unlikely. There are too many fundamental differences that cannot just simply be gotten past and/or ignored, so the individuals who need to work together on issues like clean water often do so tenuously (Schneider, 2012). It is easy to break that grasp and move apart again, which could harm the availability of water for everyone in that area.