27 mar 2014
The European Union and UNICEF launched a project Thursday to build a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip to provide 75,000 Palestinians with drinking water.
A joint statement said the project will be implemented by UNICEF thanks to a 10-million-euro ($13.7-million) EU grant.
Just 5.8 percent of Gaza households have good quality water because of increased salinity caused by sewage infiltration of groundwater, according to a statement released Thursday by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of World Water Day on Saturday.
"Access to clean water is a fundamental human right for all. And yet many Gazans face acute water shortages on a day-to-day basis," EU representative John Gatt-Rutter said as the first stone was laid for the project.
"Others can only access water of very poor quality," he added, saying the new plant "offers the prospect of access to clean water for many thousands of families".
The plant at Deir al-Balah in the centre of the territory is expected to become operational in 2015, and will supply fresh water to 75,000 people in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.
Because up to 95 percent of water in the water table is unfit for consumption, "more than four out of five Palestinians in Gaza buy their drinking water from unregulated, private vendors, a heavy burden on impoverished families", the EU-UNICEF statement said.
The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics says that 28 percent of the water supplied to households in the West Bank and Gaza is bought from Israeli company Mekorot, and that 85 percent of groundwater supplies are extracted by Israel.
A joint statement said the project will be implemented by UNICEF thanks to a 10-million-euro ($13.7-million) EU grant.
Just 5.8 percent of Gaza households have good quality water because of increased salinity caused by sewage infiltration of groundwater, according to a statement released Thursday by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of World Water Day on Saturday.
"Access to clean water is a fundamental human right for all. And yet many Gazans face acute water shortages on a day-to-day basis," EU representative John Gatt-Rutter said as the first stone was laid for the project.
"Others can only access water of very poor quality," he added, saying the new plant "offers the prospect of access to clean water for many thousands of families".
The plant at Deir al-Balah in the centre of the territory is expected to become operational in 2015, and will supply fresh water to 75,000 people in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.
Because up to 95 percent of water in the water table is unfit for consumption, "more than four out of five Palestinians in Gaza buy their drinking water from unregulated, private vendors, a heavy burden on impoverished families", the EU-UNICEF statement said.
The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics says that 28 percent of the water supplied to households in the West Bank and Gaza is bought from Israeli company Mekorot, and that 85 percent of groundwater supplies are extracted by Israel.
The world celebrates on 22nd of March each year the International World Water Day, each year it concentrates on different aspects of freshwater. In 2014 the UN drew the attention to water as a source of energy. Cherishing the fact that Gaza does have access to a semi-damaged water aquifer, like some 768 million people -as (UNESCO) and UN Water Agency put it- living without access to water, is dimmed by the fact that the 1.8 million area suffers from constant power cuts, posing the danger of dysfunctional waste sanitation facilities at times, and the difficulty of pumping water into houses.
"Life is becoming much difficult; we are deprived from essential basic needs. Can you imagine life without water? The situation in Gaza is intolerable; water is interrupted for long hours," said Safia al-Haj age 52 from Gaza City describing her feelings when the water supply is cut off.
“When there is water, electricity is cut off, so they couldn’t run the water pump machine that to fill the water-tank,” Al-Haj told ALRAY, adding “we cannot practice our life normally and live under emergency state until the water and power come back together."
Mohamed Fathi from Rafah said that they couldn’t bear the water cuts so he thought to solve this problem by buying a new tank to save water for time of need.
He explained that the water problem is linked with electricity, "when we have electricity the water cut off and vice versa; there is no electric power to run the water pump when water is available to fill the water tank located on the top floor of our building,”
As for Halla Ahmed, 25, "when water is cut off for long times, sometimes for complete two days, I store water in small potsthat are not enough for hours; in this case we suffer buying freshwater."
The average consumption of water per citizen in Gaza is 80 litres per day, while the global rates determine 150 liters of water per person per day, it makes the citizen in the Gaza area suffer from adequate supply of water by half, according to global averages.
Khalid, 15 years of age from Khan Younis, is forced to carry a gallon of water for a distance of 200 meters every day in order to provide his family with fresh water “We do not have money to buy filtered water"
To fill and carry gallons of water from water plant to house is a tiring exercise, according to Khalid.
Most Gazans buy water filtered in 300 to 400 desalination units scattered over the coastal enclave to dispense with the excess salinity of the municipal water.
“We are obliged to buy desalinated water because the municipal (aquifer) water received from pipe is not potable, unfit for drinking,” Hossam said.
Director of Coast Water Authority MontherShoplaqspoke to ALRAY "the electricity crisis affects the water sector, because the irregular electricity supply led us to the use of generators to pump water for 16 hours, although the generators are only ready to be run for 8 hours , so a lot of them need repairs andsometimes need replacing, But the financial situation of the Coast Water Authority does not allow to maintain those generators and this affects the supply of water negatively.
Shoplaq emphasized that the water crisis in Gaza Strip is very serious, if a strategic solution is not found soon in the year 2016 there will be no sufficient amount of water, and the citizen will have no water except seawater. He pointed out 95% of Gaza water is from sea water and the 5% available water will dry up in 2016,and then be a major water crisis.
Shoplaq added that the solutions for the water crisis in Gaza Strip is very costly and in desperate need of fund and resources, and with the closing of Gaza crossing it is another obstacle to get the desalination equipment to treat sea water coming into Gaza. thecrossing should allow equipment and generators and parts, for Gazaans to not suffer due to lack of water. Very important issue that Palestinian Authority need to include on their agenda when going to UN.
"Life is becoming much difficult; we are deprived from essential basic needs. Can you imagine life without water? The situation in Gaza is intolerable; water is interrupted for long hours," said Safia al-Haj age 52 from Gaza City describing her feelings when the water supply is cut off.
“When there is water, electricity is cut off, so they couldn’t run the water pump machine that to fill the water-tank,” Al-Haj told ALRAY, adding “we cannot practice our life normally and live under emergency state until the water and power come back together."
Mohamed Fathi from Rafah said that they couldn’t bear the water cuts so he thought to solve this problem by buying a new tank to save water for time of need.
He explained that the water problem is linked with electricity, "when we have electricity the water cut off and vice versa; there is no electric power to run the water pump when water is available to fill the water tank located on the top floor of our building,”
As for Halla Ahmed, 25, "when water is cut off for long times, sometimes for complete two days, I store water in small potsthat are not enough for hours; in this case we suffer buying freshwater."
The average consumption of water per citizen in Gaza is 80 litres per day, while the global rates determine 150 liters of water per person per day, it makes the citizen in the Gaza area suffer from adequate supply of water by half, according to global averages.
Khalid, 15 years of age from Khan Younis, is forced to carry a gallon of water for a distance of 200 meters every day in order to provide his family with fresh water “We do not have money to buy filtered water"
To fill and carry gallons of water from water plant to house is a tiring exercise, according to Khalid.
Most Gazans buy water filtered in 300 to 400 desalination units scattered over the coastal enclave to dispense with the excess salinity of the municipal water.
“We are obliged to buy desalinated water because the municipal (aquifer) water received from pipe is not potable, unfit for drinking,” Hossam said.
Director of Coast Water Authority MontherShoplaqspoke to ALRAY "the electricity crisis affects the water sector, because the irregular electricity supply led us to the use of generators to pump water for 16 hours, although the generators are only ready to be run for 8 hours , so a lot of them need repairs andsometimes need replacing, But the financial situation of the Coast Water Authority does not allow to maintain those generators and this affects the supply of water negatively.
Shoplaq emphasized that the water crisis in Gaza Strip is very serious, if a strategic solution is not found soon in the year 2016 there will be no sufficient amount of water, and the citizen will have no water except seawater. He pointed out 95% of Gaza water is from sea water and the 5% available water will dry up in 2016,and then be a major water crisis.
Shoplaq added that the solutions for the water crisis in Gaza Strip is very costly and in desperate need of fund and resources, and with the closing of Gaza crossing it is another obstacle to get the desalination equipment to treat sea water coming into Gaza. thecrossing should allow equipment and generators and parts, for Gazaans to not suffer due to lack of water. Very important issue that Palestinian Authority need to include on their agenda when going to UN.
23 mar 2014
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In a special ceremony Solomon's Pools Tourism Company, and Holy land for inbound tourism offices Society signed agreement aims to put Solomon Pools, which reflect the historical stage and considered a tourist centers, cultural center and a nature reserve reflect the beauty of the nature in tour programs to Palestine.The agreement was signed under the auspices and presence Palestinian Minister of tourism and antiquities Rola Maiah.
The Minister of Tourism said in her speech that the ministry is trying to increasing the number of sites to be visited by foreign tourists to beyond the traditional to visit religious sites, in order to increase the length of stay in Palestine. Karam pointed to the importance of the site for organizing global conferences to host Arab and foreign delegations, adding that this agreement in enriching the tourism product, and opening |
anew tourist markets, such as conference tourism, and it will help employment, and increase Palestinian resources.Mazen Karam, Chairman Board for Directors of Solomon's Pools stressed the importance of this tourist site, which includes historical Solomon's Pools, and Murad Castle, and Museum, and the Mall of Sultan Bazaar and Palace of Congresses.Maiah indicated that the ministry aims to develop the Palestinian tourism program and make it a diverse and includes religious, historical, cultural and natural places and this means increasing the length of stay in Palestine and an increase in profits for the tourism sector.
He also pointed to the importance role of tourism offices to make this place a destination for tourists and their contribute to turning it into a destination for tourists from around the world, Karam and announced that the company is currently studying the establishment of a park, a hotel, and an amusement park on the site.
Sami Abu dahya president of Holy land for inbound tourism offices Society said that Solomon's Pools has tourist and historical importance as it has a role in the conference tourism.
He added that the association, which comprises 43 companies and tourist office, will cooperate with Solomon's Pools, through the five-year plan, with the aim of promoting tourism in Palestine.
George salfetee director of Solomon's Pools explain all terms of the agreement, including joint action to develop programs for tour groups, who are looking for conference tourism and religious educational and cultural tourism.
He also pointed to the importance role of tourism offices to make this place a destination for tourists and their contribute to turning it into a destination for tourists from around the world, Karam and announced that the company is currently studying the establishment of a park, a hotel, and an amusement park on the site.
Sami Abu dahya president of Holy land for inbound tourism offices Society said that Solomon's Pools has tourist and historical importance as it has a role in the conference tourism.
He added that the association, which comprises 43 companies and tourist office, will cooperate with Solomon's Pools, through the five-year plan, with the aim of promoting tourism in Palestine.
George salfetee director of Solomon's Pools explain all terms of the agreement, including joint action to develop programs for tour groups, who are looking for conference tourism and religious educational and cultural tourism.
20 mar 2014
Israeli occupation authorities, on Thursday morning, served four demolition orders for infrastructure projects in the Palestinian village of Khirbat al-Tawil, to the south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
Activist Hamza Diriya (Resistance Against the Separation Wall and Settlement Committee), said that Israeli administration personnel, accompanied with military patrols, came to Khirbat al-Tawil in the morning, handing residents demolition orders for power lines and a water reservoir.
Diriya explained that the orders include the demolition of the power network which was funded by the Belgian government in 2007 with $200,000, Al Ray reports.
Also included is the demolition of a water network and pipes linking houses, agricultural facilities and fields, as well as the demolition of a well which gathers water, owned by a Palestinian farmer, and a power pole.
Diriya confirmed that the occupation is trying to create instability in Khirbat al-Tawil and to displace the inhabitants after the demolitions, which have been repeated many times throughout the past five years.
Activist Hamza Diriya (Resistance Against the Separation Wall and Settlement Committee), said that Israeli administration personnel, accompanied with military patrols, came to Khirbat al-Tawil in the morning, handing residents demolition orders for power lines and a water reservoir.
Diriya explained that the orders include the demolition of the power network which was funded by the Belgian government in 2007 with $200,000, Al Ray reports.
Also included is the demolition of a water network and pipes linking houses, agricultural facilities and fields, as well as the demolition of a well which gathers water, owned by a Palestinian farmer, and a power pole.
Diriya confirmed that the occupation is trying to create instability in Khirbat al-Tawil and to displace the inhabitants after the demolitions, which have been repeated many times throughout the past five years.
On the occasion of World Water Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) issued a joint press release on the occasion of World Water Day presenting key indicators related to water and energy in Palestine.
Water and energy are vitally important factors in all societies and United Nations declared "Water and Energy" as the theme for World Water Day 2014.
More than a quarter of water supplied to domestic consumers was purchased from the Israeli water company
Development in Palestinian society has led to increased demand for water and it is crucial to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Limited water resources impact on the quantity of water available, which was 349.2 million cubic meters (MCM) in 2012. Of these, 56.6 MCM were purchased from the Israeli water company "Mokrot", constituting 28% of the water supplied to domestic consumers, in addition to iniquitous pumping from the coastal aquifer in Gaza Strip that reach to 130 MCM.
The increase in population combined with a static quantity of water defined in the Oslo Agreement has had a significant impact on the daily allocation per capita: 76.4 l/c/d in the West Bank and 89.5 l/c/d in the Gaza Strip. However, 95% of drinking water in the Gaza Strip does not meet WHO standards and is also less than the minimum quantities recommended by WHO.
The amount of water obtained from ground water aquifers is estimated to be only 15%, while 85% is drawn by Israel.
however the Palestinian also deprived from their rights in Jordan River since 1967.
About half of households consider water quality to be good
Data for 2013 revealed that 48.8% of households in Palestine considered the quality of water to be good: 73.5% in the West Bank compared to 5.8% in the Gaza Strip.
The low percentage in the Gaza Strip is due to increased salinity in the water because of the seepage of wastewater into the groundwater and the absence of supervision of drinking water by districts in the Gaza Strip.
Quarter of Palestinian households have regular water supply daily
In 2013 27% of households in Palestine had water supplied on a daily basis, while 51.3% of households were supplied with water three to four days per week.
Most energy consumed is imported from Israel
Israel is the main source of electricity in Palestine: 4,702 GWh were purchased from Israel in 2012 constituting 88.7% of the total energy purchased in Palestine of 5,301 GWh in 2012.
Around 7.4% of energy was purchased from the Palestinian company in the Gaza Strip, 2.3% of energy was imported from Egypt and 1.6% of all energy was imported from Jordan.
Palestine imports its oil fuels entirely from Israel and that the reason why Palestine has extremely high prices of fuel and energy.
About two thirds of Palestinian households rely on solar water heating
The results of the domestic energy survey (July 2013) showed that 62% of households in Palestine use solar water heating and thus save more than 600 GWh, which is estimated to be the equivalent of 100 million dollars yearly according to the Palestinian Energy Authority, placing Palestine at the top of the countries that use this renewable source of energy.
There has been a noticeable decrease in the percentage of households that use solar heating in Palestine from 72% in 2001 to 62% in 2013; around 32% of households rely on electricity as the main source to heat water according to energy data for 2013.
Prospects for development of water and energy
Water losses totaling 77.3 MCM in 2012 are the main problem faced by the water sector and greater efforts are required from the Palestinian government to repair the leakage of water from the water network and reduce the quantity of water losses.
Palestinian governorate should look for alternative sources of water to reduce the burden on existing domestic water sources. These might comprise the use of treated water for irrigation (111.5 MCM for agricultural use) or for cooling processes as required by power plants.
However, water treatment plants consume large amounts of energy and as most energy in Palestine is imported from Israel at a high price, this may only serve to exacerbate the problem.
Palestinian governorate needs to rely on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy that do not require water. For example, a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip that produces 38 MCM of fresh water would need 35 MWh. This would be lower than the 85 MWh energy required in the Gaza Strip by 2018, in addition to implement the strategic treated plant that will produce 55 MCM of fresh water.
Water and energy are vitally important factors in all societies and United Nations declared "Water and Energy" as the theme for World Water Day 2014.
More than a quarter of water supplied to domestic consumers was purchased from the Israeli water company
Development in Palestinian society has led to increased demand for water and it is crucial to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Limited water resources impact on the quantity of water available, which was 349.2 million cubic meters (MCM) in 2012. Of these, 56.6 MCM were purchased from the Israeli water company "Mokrot", constituting 28% of the water supplied to domestic consumers, in addition to iniquitous pumping from the coastal aquifer in Gaza Strip that reach to 130 MCM.
The increase in population combined with a static quantity of water defined in the Oslo Agreement has had a significant impact on the daily allocation per capita: 76.4 l/c/d in the West Bank and 89.5 l/c/d in the Gaza Strip. However, 95% of drinking water in the Gaza Strip does not meet WHO standards and is also less than the minimum quantities recommended by WHO.
The amount of water obtained from ground water aquifers is estimated to be only 15%, while 85% is drawn by Israel.
however the Palestinian also deprived from their rights in Jordan River since 1967.
About half of households consider water quality to be good
Data for 2013 revealed that 48.8% of households in Palestine considered the quality of water to be good: 73.5% in the West Bank compared to 5.8% in the Gaza Strip.
The low percentage in the Gaza Strip is due to increased salinity in the water because of the seepage of wastewater into the groundwater and the absence of supervision of drinking water by districts in the Gaza Strip.
Quarter of Palestinian households have regular water supply daily
In 2013 27% of households in Palestine had water supplied on a daily basis, while 51.3% of households were supplied with water three to four days per week.
Most energy consumed is imported from Israel
Israel is the main source of electricity in Palestine: 4,702 GWh were purchased from Israel in 2012 constituting 88.7% of the total energy purchased in Palestine of 5,301 GWh in 2012.
Around 7.4% of energy was purchased from the Palestinian company in the Gaza Strip, 2.3% of energy was imported from Egypt and 1.6% of all energy was imported from Jordan.
Palestine imports its oil fuels entirely from Israel and that the reason why Palestine has extremely high prices of fuel and energy.
About two thirds of Palestinian households rely on solar water heating
The results of the domestic energy survey (July 2013) showed that 62% of households in Palestine use solar water heating and thus save more than 600 GWh, which is estimated to be the equivalent of 100 million dollars yearly according to the Palestinian Energy Authority, placing Palestine at the top of the countries that use this renewable source of energy.
There has been a noticeable decrease in the percentage of households that use solar heating in Palestine from 72% in 2001 to 62% in 2013; around 32% of households rely on electricity as the main source to heat water according to energy data for 2013.
Prospects for development of water and energy
Water losses totaling 77.3 MCM in 2012 are the main problem faced by the water sector and greater efforts are required from the Palestinian government to repair the leakage of water from the water network and reduce the quantity of water losses.
Palestinian governorate should look for alternative sources of water to reduce the burden on existing domestic water sources. These might comprise the use of treated water for irrigation (111.5 MCM for agricultural use) or for cooling processes as required by power plants.
However, water treatment plants consume large amounts of energy and as most energy in Palestine is imported from Israel at a high price, this may only serve to exacerbate the problem.
Palestinian governorate needs to rely on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy that do not require water. For example, a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip that produces 38 MCM of fresh water would need 35 MWh. This would be lower than the 85 MWh energy required in the Gaza Strip by 2018, in addition to implement the strategic treated plant that will produce 55 MCM of fresh water.
18 mar 2014
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Palestinian woman lives in Ras Shehada neighborhood
The East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ras Shehada, Ras Khamis, Dahyat A’salam and the Shuafat refugee camp, which are cut off from the rest of the city by the separation wall, have gone without running water since March 4. Locals say that Ras Shehada has had problems with water for more than two months, and Ras Khamis for more than 15 days, generally with low pressure and occasional cut-offs, and that this is the worst extended outage that these neighborhoods have ever experienced. |
With the rooftop reserve tanks now emptied, residents have no choice but to buy water at high prices from local vendors.
Ronit Sela, director of a human rights project in East Jerusalem for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), wrote a letter last week to Infrastructure Minister Silvan Shalom which said, in part:
“In a conversation with Mr. Eli Cohen, Associate Director of The Gihon Corporation, the water corporation responsible for supply water to Jerusalem, ACRI was told that the company’s water systems and gauges did not indicate that there was any problem with the water supply to these areas. This however does not change the harsh reality of tens of thousands of people, including infants, children, women and the sick, being left without water. It is essential to remember that the right to water is a fundamental right, the absence of which has serious implications on the right to life and health.”
The Gihon Corporation and the Jerusalem Municipality correctly assert that the current water infrastructure in these neighborhoods is insufficient to meet the water demands of the residents. Indeed, this grave situation has been exacerbated in recent years by natural population growth together with the erection of the separation barrier that disconnects them from the rest of the city. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Infrastructure to intervene to find an immediate solution to this water shortage and ensure that these residents have access in the long term to a secure water supply.
This week, ACRI is going to the High Court to file an urgent petition on behalf of area residents calling on the National Water Authority and HaGihon to address the problem.
To be continued........
By Activestills
Ronit Sela, director of a human rights project in East Jerusalem for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), wrote a letter last week to Infrastructure Minister Silvan Shalom which said, in part:
“In a conversation with Mr. Eli Cohen, Associate Director of The Gihon Corporation, the water corporation responsible for supply water to Jerusalem, ACRI was told that the company’s water systems and gauges did not indicate that there was any problem with the water supply to these areas. This however does not change the harsh reality of tens of thousands of people, including infants, children, women and the sick, being left without water. It is essential to remember that the right to water is a fundamental right, the absence of which has serious implications on the right to life and health.”
The Gihon Corporation and the Jerusalem Municipality correctly assert that the current water infrastructure in these neighborhoods is insufficient to meet the water demands of the residents. Indeed, this grave situation has been exacerbated in recent years by natural population growth together with the erection of the separation barrier that disconnects them from the rest of the city. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Infrastructure to intervene to find an immediate solution to this water shortage and ensure that these residents have access in the long term to a secure water supply.
This week, ACRI is going to the High Court to file an urgent petition on behalf of area residents calling on the National Water Authority and HaGihon to address the problem.
To be continued........
By Activestills
The signing ceremony was held in the Representative Office of Japan to the PA in Ramallah for the project of "Rehabilitation of Water Network in Jericho", on Monday 17th March.
The Representative Office of Japan to the PA said in a press release that the contract was signed by Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to the PA and Mohammad Jalayta, Mayor of Jericho Municipality. This project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A grant of USD 119,432 was extended for Jericho Municipality to rehabilitate 3,200 meters of old and damaged pipelines to new galvanized steel pipes, benefiting 180 households (about 1200 people). This project will provide those residents with adequate and clean water supply as they suffered a lot from the lack of water due to the leakage which reached 40%.
Matsuura in his speech emphasized Japan's firm commitment of supporting Palestinian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities.
Since 1993 the Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance exceeding $1.4 billion, to the Palestinians. GGP projects have been formulated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority through MoPAD since 2010.
The Representative Office of Japan to the PA said in a press release that the contract was signed by Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for the Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to the PA and Mohammad Jalayta, Mayor of Jericho Municipality. This project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
A grant of USD 119,432 was extended for Jericho Municipality to rehabilitate 3,200 meters of old and damaged pipelines to new galvanized steel pipes, benefiting 180 households (about 1200 people). This project will provide those residents with adequate and clean water supply as they suffered a lot from the lack of water due to the leakage which reached 40%.
Matsuura in his speech emphasized Japan's firm commitment of supporting Palestinian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing social and economic development projects needed for Palestinian communities.
Since 1993 the Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance exceeding $1.4 billion, to the Palestinians. GGP projects have been formulated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority through MoPAD since 2010.
16 mar 2014
In the latest success for the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, authorities in Buenos Aires have suspended a proposed $170m water treatment plant deal with Israeli state water firm Mekorot.
The decision came after a campaign by local trade unions and human rights groups which connected Mekorot’s role in Israel’s theft of Palestinian water resources with evidence that the project did not meet Argentine standards and necessities.
Campaigners argued that Mekorot was attempting to export the discriminatory water policies it has developed against the Palestinian people to Argentina.
This victory largely contradicts Israeli claims, last expressed during Netanyahu’s speech at the AIPAC, that the global south, eager for Israeli technology, are uncontested growing markets.
Mekorot illegally appropriates Palestinian water, diverting it to illegal Israeli settlements and towns inside Israel, and imposes severe obstacles to Palestinians accessing their own water. Amnesty International has accused [PDF] Israel of depriving Palestinians of their access to water “as a means of expulsion”. A French parliamentary report accused Israel of imposing a system of “water apartheid” in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Buenos Aires provincial government approved a drinking water plant project deal with a consortium led by Mekorot following a visit to Israel by state governor Daniel Scioli in 2011, but protests and lobbying have persuaded local authorities to suspend the project.
The large Dutch water utility Vitens suspended a cooperation agreement with Mekorot on the grounds that the relationship violated its “commitment to international law” in a high profile announcement in December.
“After investigating, we concluded that Mekorot came to Argentina with the intention to repeat what they are doing in Palestine. Water is a right for all and no company should be able to provide water in a discriminatory way,” said Adolfo, an engineer and a representative of the CTA/ ATE Hidráulica trade union in Buenos Aires that campaigned against the Mekorot plant.
“We fought in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice, liberation and return and we won a battle not only against Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people but as well for the right to water here in Argentina,” said Tilda Rabi, president of the Federation of Palestinian-Argentinian Organisations.
Campaigners understand that the decision was made in December 2013 but were only able to verify the news on March 7.
Friends of the Earth Palestine and a range of BDS partners are calling for a week of action against Mekorot during the last week of March.
Campaigners are viewing the Buenos Aires decision as the latest sign that the international BDS movement is increasingly isolating Israel and having serious economic impacts on its regime of occupation, colonialism and apartheid.
On Thursday, students at the National University of Galway in Ireland voted to endorse BDS in a campus-wide ballot, following on from a similar referendum success for BDS activists at the University of Windsor in Canada. National and local student unions across Europe and North America have now voted to support BDS-related measures.
Israeli media reports attributed the recent withdrawal of two leading European construction firms from the bid to build seaports in Israel to boycott fears, and a third firm only agreed to go ahead with similar plans after being allowed to submit a bid under a different name.
It emerged last month that Luxembourg’s state pension fund has excluded nine Israeli banks and firms over their role in illegal Israeli settlements, following on from similar decisions in recent months by public pension funds in Norway and the Netherlands and Danske Bank, Denmark’s largest bank.
A recent solidarity conference organized by South African members of parliament and civil society groups issued the Cape Town Declaration endorsing BDS and accusing Israel of the crime of apartheid.
The Norwegian branch of the YMCA-YWCA movement recently announced its support for an economic boycott of Israel.
“Israel’s attempts to smear the BDS movement are failing; Israel is increasingly being isolated as people of conscience around the world take action to support Palestinian rights and as investors realize that there are serious economic and reputational risks associated with doing business with Israel,” said Zaid Shuaibi, a spokesperson for the Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest Palestinian civil society coalition that leads the global BDS movement.
“Boycott is becoming an increasingly powerful and empowering way for ordinary people to support Palestinians in their struggle to end the occupation and Israel’s apartheid policies and for the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes,” he added.
The decision came after a campaign by local trade unions and human rights groups which connected Mekorot’s role in Israel’s theft of Palestinian water resources with evidence that the project did not meet Argentine standards and necessities.
Campaigners argued that Mekorot was attempting to export the discriminatory water policies it has developed against the Palestinian people to Argentina.
This victory largely contradicts Israeli claims, last expressed during Netanyahu’s speech at the AIPAC, that the global south, eager for Israeli technology, are uncontested growing markets.
Mekorot illegally appropriates Palestinian water, diverting it to illegal Israeli settlements and towns inside Israel, and imposes severe obstacles to Palestinians accessing their own water. Amnesty International has accused [PDF] Israel of depriving Palestinians of their access to water “as a means of expulsion”. A French parliamentary report accused Israel of imposing a system of “water apartheid” in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Buenos Aires provincial government approved a drinking water plant project deal with a consortium led by Mekorot following a visit to Israel by state governor Daniel Scioli in 2011, but protests and lobbying have persuaded local authorities to suspend the project.
The large Dutch water utility Vitens suspended a cooperation agreement with Mekorot on the grounds that the relationship violated its “commitment to international law” in a high profile announcement in December.
“After investigating, we concluded that Mekorot came to Argentina with the intention to repeat what they are doing in Palestine. Water is a right for all and no company should be able to provide water in a discriminatory way,” said Adolfo, an engineer and a representative of the CTA/ ATE Hidráulica trade union in Buenos Aires that campaigned against the Mekorot plant.
“We fought in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for justice, liberation and return and we won a battle not only against Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people but as well for the right to water here in Argentina,” said Tilda Rabi, president of the Federation of Palestinian-Argentinian Organisations.
Campaigners understand that the decision was made in December 2013 but were only able to verify the news on March 7.
Friends of the Earth Palestine and a range of BDS partners are calling for a week of action against Mekorot during the last week of March.
Campaigners are viewing the Buenos Aires decision as the latest sign that the international BDS movement is increasingly isolating Israel and having serious economic impacts on its regime of occupation, colonialism and apartheid.
On Thursday, students at the National University of Galway in Ireland voted to endorse BDS in a campus-wide ballot, following on from a similar referendum success for BDS activists at the University of Windsor in Canada. National and local student unions across Europe and North America have now voted to support BDS-related measures.
Israeli media reports attributed the recent withdrawal of two leading European construction firms from the bid to build seaports in Israel to boycott fears, and a third firm only agreed to go ahead with similar plans after being allowed to submit a bid under a different name.
It emerged last month that Luxembourg’s state pension fund has excluded nine Israeli banks and firms over their role in illegal Israeli settlements, following on from similar decisions in recent months by public pension funds in Norway and the Netherlands and Danske Bank, Denmark’s largest bank.
A recent solidarity conference organized by South African members of parliament and civil society groups issued the Cape Town Declaration endorsing BDS and accusing Israel of the crime of apartheid.
The Norwegian branch of the YMCA-YWCA movement recently announced its support for an economic boycott of Israel.
“Israel’s attempts to smear the BDS movement are failing; Israel is increasingly being isolated as people of conscience around the world take action to support Palestinian rights and as investors realize that there are serious economic and reputational risks associated with doing business with Israel,” said Zaid Shuaibi, a spokesperson for the Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest Palestinian civil society coalition that leads the global BDS movement.
“Boycott is becoming an increasingly powerful and empowering way for ordinary people to support Palestinians in their struggle to end the occupation and Israel’s apartheid policies and for the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes,” he added.
15 mar 2014
The Palestinian Water Authority organized Saturday a march in support of Palestinian water rights in Bardala near Jericho. Taking part in a march organized under the motto “The Jordan Valley Screams” to mark the World Water Day, marchers lifted banners calling for defending Palestinian water rights and praising the steadfastness of Palestinian residents of the Jordan Valley against displacement as a result of settlement construction.
Marchers called for the reclamation of the Palestinians’ right to obtain 250 million cubic meter of water from the Jordan River, whose water is exploited by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Among the marchers were head and personnel of the Palestinian Water Authority.
Head of the Palestinian Water Authority, Shadad ʻAttili, highlighted depriving the Palestinians in the Jordan Valley from water as a result of the Israeli policies, as well as the Israeli attempts to undermine the Palestinian food basket in the Jordan Valley; the Jordan Valley is a fertile productive region, described as the food basket of Palestine.
“Although we stand on the second largest water reservoir [in Palestine] and near the Jordan River, we are suffering from the water scarcity,” said ‘Attili.
Marchers called for the reclamation of the Palestinians’ right to obtain 250 million cubic meter of water from the Jordan River, whose water is exploited by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Among the marchers were head and personnel of the Palestinian Water Authority.
Head of the Palestinian Water Authority, Shadad ʻAttili, highlighted depriving the Palestinians in the Jordan Valley from water as a result of the Israeli policies, as well as the Israeli attempts to undermine the Palestinian food basket in the Jordan Valley; the Jordan Valley is a fertile productive region, described as the food basket of Palestine.
“Although we stand on the second largest water reservoir [in Palestine] and near the Jordan River, we are suffering from the water scarcity,” said ‘Attili.
12 mar 2014
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) served notifications in Khirbat Al-Fakhit hamlet near Yatta town in Al-Khalil on Tuesday for the demolition of two water wells. Activist Ratib Al-Jabour told the PIC that IOF soldiers handed the notifications to two brothers in the hamlet.
The soldiers claimed that the water wells were built without permit as they were located in area C, which is under full Israeli control according to the Oslo accords, Jabour added.
More than 40 houses, schools and mosques in addition to 30 installations and sheep pens were served demolition notifications south of Al-Khalil since the beginning of this year.
The soldiers claimed that the water wells were built without permit as they were located in area C, which is under full Israeli control according to the Oslo accords, Jabour added.
More than 40 houses, schools and mosques in addition to 30 installations and sheep pens were served demolition notifications south of Al-Khalil since the beginning of this year.
11 mar 2014
Occupation forces, on Tuesday, served residents with notifications that three privately-owned Palestinian houses, to the south of Nablus, are scheduled for demolition. In addition, two water wells near Hebron are also to be destroyed, according to activists.
The Israeli army invaded the village of Yatma, to the south of Nablus, serving notices to three families in regard to the army’s intent to demolish their houses, said activist Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, according to a WAFA report.
Meanwhile in Hebron, anti-settlement activist Ra’ed Jubur said that a staff from the Israeli civil administration, backed by military forces, arrived in Kherbat al-Fakhit, to the south of Hebron, with notification for the demolition of two water wells, belonging to two local residents.
The wells are used for collecting rain water, for their daily supply.
The Israeli army invaded the village of Yatma, to the south of Nablus, serving notices to three families in regard to the army’s intent to demolish their houses, said activist Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, according to a WAFA report.
Meanwhile in Hebron, anti-settlement activist Ra’ed Jubur said that a staff from the Israeli civil administration, backed by military forces, arrived in Kherbat al-Fakhit, to the south of Hebron, with notification for the demolition of two water wells, belonging to two local residents.
The wells are used for collecting rain water, for their daily supply.
7 mar 2014
Some 50,000 Palestinian residents of Jerusalem have been without water for three days, after their water supply was cut off on Tuesday.
The residents are from the Shoafat refugee camp and the neighborhoods of Ras Hamis, Ras Shehada and Hashalom – all within the Jerusalem municipality, and where a majority of residents having blue Israeli ID cards. However, they are on the Palestinian side of the separation fence.
Water is supplied to the area by Jerusalem's water utility – Hagihon. The water systems were designed many years ago and are not adequate for the needs of the population, which has grown significantly in recent years
Water tanks on the roofs have already been emptied and now peddlers selling jerry-cans and water tanks at exorbitant prices have begun making the rounds.
"We don't have even a drop of water. How is it possible to live like this?" asks Jamil Sanduka, a local resident who promised to organize a protest "of 20,000 people outside city hall and the Knesset."
Ronit Sela, director of a human rights project in East Jerusalem for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, wrote an urgent letter today to Infrastructure Minister Silvan Shalom: "In a conversation yesterday with Mr. Eli Cohen, deputy director-general of Hagihon, we were told that no problem has been observed in the facilities and measurement devices that monitor the water to the area," she wrote.
"But the reality remains unchanged: Tens of thousands of people, including babies, children, women and the sick, have been left without water. Let us not forget that the right to water is a basic right, and the lack of water has serious implications for the right to life and health."
"This cut-off of water is an especially egregious example of the ongoing neglect of residents who are cut off from the city by the separation fence," Sela concluded.
In its response, Hagihon said: "Water from Hagihon is flowing as usual to the neighborhoods on the other side of the separation fence (Shoafat, Hashalom and Ras Hamis), but the water infrastructure and sewer and drainage systems in the neighborhoods are not adequate for the size of the population living there and extensive development work is needed to bring the infrastructure up to par."
The company added that "most of the population in these neighborhoods (tens of thousands of people) are not registered customers of Hagihon but still receive a continuous water supply, out of humanitarian concerns, at a cost of more than NIS 10 million per year, paid for by Hagihon.
"Hagihon has warned the Water Authority many times of the urgent need to regularize the funding of the water supply and the improvement and maintenance of the infrastructure in the medium and long term, but the matter has yet to be addressed."
Source:Haaretz
The residents are from the Shoafat refugee camp and the neighborhoods of Ras Hamis, Ras Shehada and Hashalom – all within the Jerusalem municipality, and where a majority of residents having blue Israeli ID cards. However, they are on the Palestinian side of the separation fence.
Water is supplied to the area by Jerusalem's water utility – Hagihon. The water systems were designed many years ago and are not adequate for the needs of the population, which has grown significantly in recent years
Water tanks on the roofs have already been emptied and now peddlers selling jerry-cans and water tanks at exorbitant prices have begun making the rounds.
"We don't have even a drop of water. How is it possible to live like this?" asks Jamil Sanduka, a local resident who promised to organize a protest "of 20,000 people outside city hall and the Knesset."
Ronit Sela, director of a human rights project in East Jerusalem for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, wrote an urgent letter today to Infrastructure Minister Silvan Shalom: "In a conversation yesterday with Mr. Eli Cohen, deputy director-general of Hagihon, we were told that no problem has been observed in the facilities and measurement devices that monitor the water to the area," she wrote.
"But the reality remains unchanged: Tens of thousands of people, including babies, children, women and the sick, have been left without water. Let us not forget that the right to water is a basic right, and the lack of water has serious implications for the right to life and health."
"This cut-off of water is an especially egregious example of the ongoing neglect of residents who are cut off from the city by the separation fence," Sela concluded.
In its response, Hagihon said: "Water from Hagihon is flowing as usual to the neighborhoods on the other side of the separation fence (Shoafat, Hashalom and Ras Hamis), but the water infrastructure and sewer and drainage systems in the neighborhoods are not adequate for the size of the population living there and extensive development work is needed to bring the infrastructure up to par."
The company added that "most of the population in these neighborhoods (tens of thousands of people) are not registered customers of Hagihon but still receive a continuous water supply, out of humanitarian concerns, at a cost of more than NIS 10 million per year, paid for by Hagihon.
"Hagihon has warned the Water Authority many times of the urgent need to regularize the funding of the water supply and the improvement and maintenance of the infrastructure in the medium and long term, but the matter has yet to be addressed."
Source:Haaretz
