21 mar 2019
More than 97% of the water pumped from the coastal aquifer in the besieged Gaza Strip does not meet the water quality standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), leading to the depletion of groundwater reserves with the groundwater level in the coastal aquifer reaching 19 meters below sea level, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) said on Thursday in a joint press release on the occasion of World Water Day.
The joint statement said, “The amount of water extracted from the coastal aquifer for domestic use was 178.7 million cubic meters (MCM) in Gaza Strip in 2017; but this quantity is obtained via unsafe pumping that jeopardizes sustainability of the source knowing that the basin sustainable yield should not exceed 50-60 MCM a year.”
In the West Bank, where the Palestinians have been denied access by the Israeli occupation authorities to extraction from the Jordan River since 1967, which was estimated about 250 MCM, the quantity of Water pumped from Palestinian wells in the West Bank in 2017 was 86 MCM from eastern aquifer, western aquifer and north-eastern aquifer.
The statement added that data showed that the percentage of the exploitation of surface and groundwater from available water in the year 2017 was high, with an average of 77%.
With scarce water and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinian cities are forced to purchase water from the Israeli water company “Mekorot.” In 2017, they purchased 83 MCM, which represented 22% of the water available in Palestine (375 MCM).
Additionally, 23.5 MCM of water were produced from Palestinian springs while 264.5 MCM are pumped from groundwater wells, and 4.0 MCM desalinated drinking water.
PCBS and PWA stressed that 62% of households use an improved drinking water source (piped into dwellings, protected dug well/ protected spring, rainwater, bottled water and public tab), and 95% in the West Bank and 11% in Gaza Strip. The decrease in the Gaza Strip was due to the deterioration in the quality of water extracted from the coastal basin.
As for the type of localities, these percentages were distributed to 58% in urban localities, 94% in rural localities, compared to 44% in refugee camps.
The daily allocation per capita from consumed water for domestic purposes is 88.3 liters/capita/day in Palestine. The West Bank and Gaza Strip had the same rate in 2017.
There are some localities where the average per capita consumption does not exceed 50.4 liters per day, while this rate exceeds 150 liters per day in other localities such as Jericho.
The joint statement said, “The amount of water extracted from the coastal aquifer for domestic use was 178.7 million cubic meters (MCM) in Gaza Strip in 2017; but this quantity is obtained via unsafe pumping that jeopardizes sustainability of the source knowing that the basin sustainable yield should not exceed 50-60 MCM a year.”
In the West Bank, where the Palestinians have been denied access by the Israeli occupation authorities to extraction from the Jordan River since 1967, which was estimated about 250 MCM, the quantity of Water pumped from Palestinian wells in the West Bank in 2017 was 86 MCM from eastern aquifer, western aquifer and north-eastern aquifer.
The statement added that data showed that the percentage of the exploitation of surface and groundwater from available water in the year 2017 was high, with an average of 77%.
With scarce water and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinian cities are forced to purchase water from the Israeli water company “Mekorot.” In 2017, they purchased 83 MCM, which represented 22% of the water available in Palestine (375 MCM).
Additionally, 23.5 MCM of water were produced from Palestinian springs while 264.5 MCM are pumped from groundwater wells, and 4.0 MCM desalinated drinking water.
PCBS and PWA stressed that 62% of households use an improved drinking water source (piped into dwellings, protected dug well/ protected spring, rainwater, bottled water and public tab), and 95% in the West Bank and 11% in Gaza Strip. The decrease in the Gaza Strip was due to the deterioration in the quality of water extracted from the coastal basin.
As for the type of localities, these percentages were distributed to 58% in urban localities, 94% in rural localities, compared to 44% in refugee camps.
The daily allocation per capita from consumed water for domestic purposes is 88.3 liters/capita/day in Palestine. The West Bank and Gaza Strip had the same rate in 2017.
There are some localities where the average per capita consumption does not exceed 50.4 liters per day, while this rate exceeds 150 liters per day in other localities such as Jericho.
Israeli forces demolished two Palestinian homes on Wednesday, at noon, in the South Hebron Hills of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
Fouad al-Umour, coordinator of a local popular committee, reported that Israeli forces demolished a residential room belonging to local resident Issa Awad, in the Umm Tuba village, and seized a water tank and solar panels.
Israeli forces also detained local Awad Ibrahim Ali Awad, 22, from the village.
Al-Umour said that Israeli forces also demolished a house belonging to Ali Muhammad Abu Arram, in the Halaweh village.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords, Ma;an further reports.
Israeli authorities seek to displace Masafer Yatta residents, in order to seize their lands, as part of an Israeli settlement expansion plan in the West Bank.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ).
Masafer Yatta residents were expelled at the time of the establishment of a firing zone in the 1970s and were eventually allowed back following a long court battle, but are under the constant threat of being expelled or seeing their homes demolished.
Fouad al-Umour, coordinator of a local popular committee, reported that Israeli forces demolished a residential room belonging to local resident Issa Awad, in the Umm Tuba village, and seized a water tank and solar panels.
Israeli forces also detained local Awad Ibrahim Ali Awad, 22, from the village.
Al-Umour said that Israeli forces also demolished a house belonging to Ali Muhammad Abu Arram, in the Halaweh village.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords, Ma;an further reports.
Israeli authorities seek to displace Masafer Yatta residents, in order to seize their lands, as part of an Israeli settlement expansion plan in the West Bank.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ).
Masafer Yatta residents were expelled at the time of the establishment of a firing zone in the 1970s and were eventually allowed back following a long court battle, but are under the constant threat of being expelled or seeing their homes demolished.
18 mar 2019
A United Nations human rights investigator stressed that Israel is depriving millions of Palestinians of access to a regular supply of clean water while stripping their lands of minerals "in an apparent act of pillage,” on Monday.
Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that Israel "continues full-steam with settlement expansion" in the occupied West Bank.
Lynk added, “There are some 20-25,000 new settlers a year.”
According to settlement watchdog Peace Now, under Netanyahu’s government, intensive activity to restore the widespread phenomenon of illegal outposts deep inside the West Bank has increased.
Since the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis have moved into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 government recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that Israel "continues full-steam with settlement expansion" in the occupied West Bank.
Lynk added, “There are some 20-25,000 new settlers a year.”
According to settlement watchdog Peace Now, under Netanyahu’s government, intensive activity to restore the widespread phenomenon of illegal outposts deep inside the West Bank has increased.
Since the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis have moved into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 government recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, Khirbat Um Neer village, east of Yatta town, in the southern West Bank governorate of Hebron, and demolished a water well.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the soldiers demolished the well, allegedly for being dug without a permit.
He added that the Palestinian who owned the well, identified as Farid Ahmad Jabour, used it to collect rain water for his home and farmland, amidst frequent water shortages in the area.
Jabour also said that the well is near the illegal Israeli Susya colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, and stated that the army and the colonists carry out frequent violations against the villagers, their homes and lands, to force them to leave.
In related news, illegal Israeli colonists installed several mobile homes on Palestinian lands, in the southeastern area of Kufur Qaddoum town, east of Qalqilia, in northern West Bank.
The colonists installed the homes near Kedumim illegal colony, while dozens of soldiers were deployed in the area, and on roads between Qalqilia and Nablus.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the soldiers demolished the well, allegedly for being dug without a permit.
He added that the Palestinian who owned the well, identified as Farid Ahmad Jabour, used it to collect rain water for his home and farmland, amidst frequent water shortages in the area.
Jabour also said that the well is near the illegal Israeli Susya colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, and stated that the army and the colonists carry out frequent violations against the villagers, their homes and lands, to force them to leave.
In related news, illegal Israeli colonists installed several mobile homes on Palestinian lands, in the southeastern area of Kufur Qaddoum town, east of Qalqilia, in northern West Bank.
The colonists installed the homes near Kedumim illegal colony, while dozens of soldiers were deployed in the area, and on roads between Qalqilia and Nablus.
8 mar 2019
A group of Israeli colonialist settlers living illegally on Palestinian lands in the West Bank’s Northern Plains, attacked many Palestinian shepherds, Friday, in several areas, and chased them away.
Palestinian nonviolent activist against Israel’s illegal colonialist activities, Aref Daraghma, said the colonists attacked the shepherds, and chased them along with their sheep out of the areas of Shwei’er, al-Farisiyya and al-Himma.
In addition, Burhan Bisharat, a local of Khirbat Makhoul village, in the Northern Plains, said many colonists gathered near a water well, used by the shepherds for their livestock, raising fears among the residents that the colonists might have poisoned the water, similar to previous incidents.
It is worth mentioning that the colonists frequently assault the shepherds, and in some cases killed their sheep, in order to force them out of the grazing lands.
Palestinian nonviolent activist against Israel’s illegal colonialist activities, Aref Daraghma, said the colonists attacked the shepherds, and chased them along with their sheep out of the areas of Shwei’er, al-Farisiyya and al-Himma.
In addition, Burhan Bisharat, a local of Khirbat Makhoul village, in the Northern Plains, said many colonists gathered near a water well, used by the shepherds for their livestock, raising fears among the residents that the colonists might have poisoned the water, similar to previous incidents.
It is worth mentioning that the colonists frequently assault the shepherds, and in some cases killed their sheep, in order to force them out of the grazing lands.
6 mar 2019
Israeli forces and the Israeli Civil Administration cut off water supply for dozens of Palestinians living in communities in Bardala village in the Jordan Valley in the northern occupied West Bank, on Wednesday.
Mutaz Bisharat, an official who monitors settlement activity in Tubas/Jordan Valley, told Ma'an that Israeli forces cut off water supply for 60% of residents of the Bardala village; that is 2600 people.
Israeli forces also cut off water supply for 1800-2000 dunams of Palestinian agricultural lands that must be continuously irrigated.
Bisharat added that Israel claims that water sources supplying residents with water are illegal, stressing that the water comes from water wills in the village and inside Palestinian lands.
He pointed out that as Israeli forces cut off water supply for Palestinians, they construct water wills for Israeli settlers.
Bisharat called upon international and humanitarian institutions to immediately intervene to stop Israeli violations of human rights.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
Water allocations are very necessary for the increase of agricultural production, in order to support the economic growth of many Palestinian farmers.
Jordan Valley residents mostly live in enclaves closed off by Israeli military zones, checkpoints, and more than 30 illegal Israeli settlements.
Mutaz Bisharat, an official who monitors settlement activity in Tubas/Jordan Valley, told Ma'an that Israeli forces cut off water supply for 60% of residents of the Bardala village; that is 2600 people.
Israeli forces also cut off water supply for 1800-2000 dunams of Palestinian agricultural lands that must be continuously irrigated.
Bisharat added that Israel claims that water sources supplying residents with water are illegal, stressing that the water comes from water wills in the village and inside Palestinian lands.
He pointed out that as Israeli forces cut off water supply for Palestinians, they construct water wills for Israeli settlers.
Bisharat called upon international and humanitarian institutions to immediately intervene to stop Israeli violations of human rights.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
Water allocations are very necessary for the increase of agricultural production, in order to support the economic growth of many Palestinian farmers.
Jordan Valley residents mostly live in enclaves closed off by Israeli military zones, checkpoints, and more than 30 illegal Israeli settlements.
26 feb 2019
Japan’s Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to Palestine, Takeshi Okubo. on Sunday, signed grant contracts for three electricity and water rehabilitation projects across the West Bank.
The Representative Office of Japan to Palestine said, in a press release, that Okubo signed grant contracts for two Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) with representatives of Ateel Municipality, Fahmeh village council, and Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality, for a total amount of $262,804, at the Representative Office in Ramallah.
The Ateel Municipality, in the Tulkarem district, will use a fund of $84,675 to improve water supply for 350 households in 7 locations, at Ateel village, by replacing 16,000 m of old damaged water pipelines.
Fahmeh village council, in the Jenin district, will use a fund of $89,129 to solve the problem of electricity shortage and danger of non-isolated electricity wires by installing 8,000 m of isolated cables, a step that would directly benefit 2,000 residents.
Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality in the Salfit district will also use a fund of $89,000 to rehabilitate 2,000 meters of water network in the town to improve tap water supply and enhance the water quantity and quality for 335 households and for 67 houses as direct beneficiaries.
Okubo congratulated Ateel Municipality, Fahmeh village council and Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality, and wished them success in their project.
He 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 amounting to approximately $1.86 billion to the Palestinians, WAFA reports.
The Representative Office of Japan to Palestine said, in a press release, that Okubo signed grant contracts for two Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) with representatives of Ateel Municipality, Fahmeh village council, and Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality, for a total amount of $262,804, at the Representative Office in Ramallah.
The Ateel Municipality, in the Tulkarem district, will use a fund of $84,675 to improve water supply for 350 households in 7 locations, at Ateel village, by replacing 16,000 m of old damaged water pipelines.
Fahmeh village council, in the Jenin district, will use a fund of $89,129 to solve the problem of electricity shortage and danger of non-isolated electricity wires by installing 8,000 m of isolated cables, a step that would directly benefit 2,000 residents.
Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality in the Salfit district will also use a fund of $89,000 to rehabilitate 2,000 meters of water network in the town to improve tap water supply and enhance the water quantity and quality for 335 households and for 67 houses as direct beneficiaries.
Okubo congratulated Ateel Municipality, Fahmeh village council and Qarawat Bani Hassan Municipality, and wished them success in their project.
He 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 amounting to approximately $1.86 billion to the Palestinians, WAFA reports.
15 feb 2019
On Wednesday, Israeli forces cut off the water supply lines which provide water to the Masafer Yatta communities, south of Hebron.
The head of the Twaneh village council, Mohammed Reb’i, said that Israeli forces cut off water lines which feed 17 communities in Masafer Yatta.
Reb’i added that the measures come in the context of targeting citizens and their steadfastness in those areas, in an attempt to force them to leave their homes to illegal Israeli settlement expansion.
Israeli forces recently bulldozed a road that had been rehabilitated and connected the village of Twaned to the area of Khallet al-Daba.
According to the PNN, some 1,500 residents live in Masafer Yatta, and the Israeli occupation prevents the construction of roads and the provision of basic services, in these areas.
The head of the Twaneh village council, Mohammed Reb’i, said that Israeli forces cut off water lines which feed 17 communities in Masafer Yatta.
Reb’i added that the measures come in the context of targeting citizens and their steadfastness in those areas, in an attempt to force them to leave their homes to illegal Israeli settlement expansion.
Israeli forces recently bulldozed a road that had been rehabilitated and connected the village of Twaned to the area of Khallet al-Daba.
According to the PNN, some 1,500 residents live in Masafer Yatta, and the Israeli occupation prevents the construction of roads and the provision of basic services, in these areas.
11 feb 2019
Israeli forces raided water pump rooms in the village of at-Tiwani, east of Masafer Yatta, south of the southern West Bank district of Hebron, said a local official.
Head of at-Tiwani village council, Mohammed Rabe’, told WAFA that Israeli forces, accompanied by staff from the Israeli civil administration, raided the water pump rooms in the village, and conducted search operations for the pipelines supplying the eastern part of Masafer Yatta with water, in an apparent prelude to cut off water supply to residents.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said that this measure aims at forcing the residents, shepherds and farmers to leave the area for the benefit of settlement expansion.
Head of at-Tiwani village council, Mohammed Rabe’, told WAFA that Israeli forces, accompanied by staff from the Israeli civil administration, raided the water pump rooms in the village, and conducted search operations for the pipelines supplying the eastern part of Masafer Yatta with water, in an apparent prelude to cut off water supply to residents.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said that this measure aims at forcing the residents, shepherds and farmers to leave the area for the benefit of settlement expansion.
14 jan 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and ordered two families to halt the construction of their home, shed and water well.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular and National Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the soldiers invaded the al-Jawaya village, east of Yatta, and handed the orders to Abdul-Mottaleb Hammad Nawaj’a and Mousa Hasan Shawaheen.
He added that the properties in question are being built on private Palestinian lands, but the military has been denying the residents the right to build on their property.
Jabour voiced an appeal to local and international human rights groups to intervene, and stop the illegal Israeli colonialist policies, aiming at forcing the Palestinians out of their lands to replace them with colonialist setters, and to use their properties for military purposes.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular and National Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the soldiers invaded the al-Jawaya village, east of Yatta, and handed the orders to Abdul-Mottaleb Hammad Nawaj’a and Mousa Hasan Shawaheen.
He added that the properties in question are being built on private Palestinian lands, but the military has been denying the residents the right to build on their property.
Jabour voiced an appeal to local and international human rights groups to intervene, and stop the illegal Israeli colonialist policies, aiming at forcing the Palestinians out of their lands to replace them with colonialist setters, and to use their properties for military purposes.
Page: 2 - 1
