المياه والامن القومي العربي مع التطبيق على فلسطين : دراسة في الجغرافية السياسية

Abstract

Abstract Water and National Security as applies to Palestine A geo-political study - Presented by Subhy Yusuf Al-Ustaz Supervised by Professor Mohammed Gamal Ahmed Yunus The present study tackles the issue of water and national security with special application to the water situation in the Arab Region in general and Palestine in particular. The major objectives of this study focus on demonstrating the basic need for water as an important strategic resource, a review of the water quantity and usage in the Region, the related international entanglements--especially n he onflict-pact iddle ast, nd finally on the challenge of population growth in the Arab Region,-- estimated to amount to 710 millions by 2030-- which will inevitably ensure a tremendous increase in water supplies. Of these challenges tackled here is the potential threat against Arab development, engendered from the location of major Arab riverheads, e.g. the Nile, Tigris, the Euphrates out of Arab territories. ' It is axiomatic that the inefficient use of water in the Arab Region has led to the production of a deficient national security map in that Region. For instance, the Arabs have been depending on export to meet their needs for foodstuff and produce, especially wheat needs, half of which is exported from abroad. As regards Palestine, the water situation has by far become more insecure with the Israeli rampant and outrageous practices of control over Palestinian water resources, denying the Palestinian right to water and offering free access to water resources and land to Jewish settlers on the Palestinian lands. Such policy has enabled the Israelis to expand their agricultural projects and to the rise in numbers of Jewish immigrants to Palestine. . In addition, this study finds that both the quality and quantity of water in the Arab Region have been progressively deteriorating and that there emerges a flagrant discrepancy between what is used and what is available of water. It also makes clear that, contrary to all international laws, Israel is depleting huge quantities of Arab water from all sources; the Jordan, Al-Yarmouk, Al- Litany rivers as well as from Gaza and West Bank groundwater. Accordingly, the study recommends that there is urgent need for rationing water use, adopting updated irrigation methods, prospecting for new water resources, technologizing water ground search and circulation, ameliorating neighborhood relations with concerned countries within a uniform Arab strategy to reach agreements that secure every parties right to water use. On the Palestinian level, the study recommends that the Palestinian have to stand firm and unwavering in their determination to have their own legitimate right to water in their negotiation with the Israelis over water issues, as a resource indispensable to the establishment of the developing Palestinian state. In conclusion, the researcher humbly declares that this study is nothing more than a modest effort towards highlighting one of the major issues that should concern the Arab Nation. The researcher would like to emphasize that when he is right, it is due to Allah’s grace and when otherwise, it is his own deficient human ability.. '