This Week In Palestine July 2016 by monjed abusharar

219

alestine July 2016

Water in Palestine

In this issue

In this issue you will be enlightened about the water shortage that affects both the West Bank and Gaza. But you might be surprised to learn that the reason behind this shortage is not so much an absence of rain – even though we have had a few years with less-than-ideal rainfall in winter. It is interesting to note that Ramallah receives more rain than notoriously rainy London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, and about as much as Rome, Berlin, and Frankfurt.*

Water in Palestine 4 Water Wars 12 Bitter Water

219

20 Palestine International Festival 22 The Water of Life – Not in Palestine 28 Seawater Desalination 34 Birzeit Heritage Week 36 Let It Flow 42 Palestinian Natural Springs 48 Water in the Village, or Is that No Water in the Village?

Our personality of the month is a strong advocate of water rights and a positive driving force in improving water and wastewater service provision. Our artist of the month uses water prepared in an unconventional way as a medium for artistic expression, and our book of the month explores in haunting images the history and present reality of Palestine.

52 Palestinian Springs 56 The Establishment of the Water Sector Regulatory Council 62 I Stood at the Lowest Point on Earth 68 In the Limelight

Cover: The Dead Sea Photo by Ayman Noubani

76 Reviews

The articles examine many aspects of the ways in which water is distributed in Palestine. One author suggests that it is used as a weapon in what she describes as a water war, while others expose methods used by settlers to take over Palestinian springs that support livelihoods by turning them into recreational and tourist attractions. And still others explain how the Palestinian government is working to improve water services and sector regulation, or show how KAIROS and the Christian religious community are supporting Palestinian water rights and raising international awareness. You will hear different accounts regarding the severe problems facing Gaza in articles that explain the natural conditions that contribute to water scarcity, show their historical roots and social and political causes, and provide contrary assessments regarding plans to supply safe drinking water to Gazans via desalination. More personal accounts talk of the disappearance of the Dead Sea or of the possibility to make use of alternative hair-care products to replace missing water.

78 Events

So take a break from hard work, find a shady place (or is it harder to find a dry one?), and enjoy another issue filled with information on one of the most beautiful and special places on earth. If you enjoy a bit of a challenge, find the comparisons between Palestine and Manhattan or London that are hidden in two of our articles, and be the first to let us know where they are. From the entire team of TWIP, we wish a blessed Eid al-Fitr to all those who are celebrating, and to everyone a safe and peaceful summer!

80-88 Listings

Compare the amount of average yearly rainfall in Ramallah, published via the Journal of Water Resource and Protection, with information published by skyscrapercity. com for cities worldwide (http://file.scirp.org/pdf/ JWARP20100400007_30304044.pdf).

89-97 Maps 98 The Last Word Telefax: +970/2 2-295 1262 info@turbo-design.com www.thisweekinpalestine.com www.facebook.com/ ThisWeekInPalestine Publisher: Sani P. Meo Art Director: Taisir Masrieh Graphic Designers: Shehadeh Louis, Hassan Nasser Editor: Tina Basem TWIP Coordinator: Yara Alloush The views presented in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Maps herein have been prepared solely for the convenience of the reader; the designations and presentation of material do not imply any expression of opinion of This Week in Palestine, its publisher, editor, or its advisory board as to the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or the authorities thereof, or as to the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation.

Printed by: Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem Maps: Courtesy of PalMap - GSE Distribution in the West Bank: CityExpress 2

Tina Basem Editor

Forthcoming Issues August 2016: Animals in Palestine September 2016: Caring for and Working with People with Disabilities October 2016: Tapping into Palestine’s Diaspora

Advisory Board

Riyam Kafri-AbuLaban

Nasser Al-Kidwa

Mazen Karam

Chairman of Board of Directors, Yasser Arafat Foundation

Managing Director, Bethlehem Development Foundation

Naseer Rahmi Arafat

Bassim Khoury

Cultural Heritage Enrichment Center

CEO, Pharmacare LTD

Ola Awad

Abeer Odeh

President of PCBS / President of IAOS

Minister of National Economy

Principal of the Friends Boys School

Water Wars Examining the Israeli Water Policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories By Lamya Hussain

Palestinian water tanks destroyed by Israeli settlers in Hebron.

ensions over water have continuously been a feature of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967. They are not unique to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; rather, the struggle to access clean water is a regional and global phenomenon whereby “water wars” have been the crux of protracted conflict and violence for centuries. Nevertheless, in the case of the Palestinian territories, disputes of water and land take on a specific form that is best understood under the theoretical lens of settler-colonialism.1 At the level of policy and programming, understanding the disparities in access to water across the oPt requires a critical lens to help rectify the conditions which are leading to forced displacement, de-development,2 and chronic poverty. The Palestinian territories are currently disjointed and have been through over four decades of occupation and siege. The fragmenting of the local geography has manipulated the natural landscape of historic Palestine affecting drastically the organic planning of water systems. The building of occupation-related structures, such as the Separation Barrier and illegal settlements, disturbs natural springs and water pathways that historically irrigated hills, valleys, and plateaus across the West Bank. In addition, the Oslo Accords have codified the fragmentation of the oPt by an additional layer of territorial division via the creation of Areas A, B, and C. Amidst all such segregation, Israeli military and civilian planning processes have further disadvantaged the communities of the state of Palestine, and more specifically in recent years. While the overarching context of occupation and siege remains the primary motivator for Israel to dominate water (and other resources) across the oPt, there are parallel water-based infrastructural 4

stipulations imposed across the various Palestinian communities. This paper will shed light on how water is used as a tool of war and manipulated to impair major productive sectors (mainly the agriculture sector) in order to disenfranchise Palestinians.

It i s r a t he r s i m pl i s t i c t o contextualize water purely in economic terms, rather it must also be understood as a tool of war and forced-displacement of Palestinians.

Since 1967, water (and access to it) has been an essential tool in Israel’s power play in the West Bank. Several studies examining the hydro-political reality of this area have been published, and many researchers, including Sharif el Musa, Tony Allan, Eran Feitelson, and Aaron Wolf, have documented the intersections between water and power. Much has been written about how Palestinians since 1967 have been denied one of their basic human rights, namely the right to clean and drinkable water.3 Additional studies highlight how Israel continues to enjoy unrestricted access to water – which adds substantially to its public and private sectors – while in contrast, Palestinians are denied the same unrestricted access to their natural resources 4 and have only limited access to emerging water-based

technologies such as desalination and wastewater recycling systems. It is documented that Palestinian consumption of water is roughly 79 liters in the West Bank and 91 liters in the Gaza Strip in 2014. Fur ther, it should be noted that both figures are well below the WHO minimum recommended 100 1/c/d. Meanwhile, communities in Area C and Gaza are far more vulnerable and have added restrictions towards accessing water. Consider that in Area C the disjointed water system barely provides 20 l/c/d. However, it is within the details of how a water war exerts itself that one can grasp a concrete picture of the Israeli occupation and settler-colonialism. 5

Figure 1: The many actors involved in water services in Palestine (NWC: (Palestinian) National Water Company; JWC: Joint Water Company; PWA: Palestinian Water Authority; MOA: (Palestinian) Ministry of Agriculture; MOLG: (Palestinian) Ministry of Local Government; WBDW: West Bank Water Department; JWU: Jerusalem Water Undertaking; WSSA: Water Supply and Sewage Authority)

Water-induced displacement

international law for riparian countries (located adjacent to bodies of water),7 which adds to the de-development of Palestinian livelihoods. There is no doubt that Israel has organized its water networks politically, with its average consumption recorded at 1,300 mcm/y. While Israel places much emphasis on constructing the argument that water is sourced to support its agriculture sector, it should be noted that the share of agriculture in GNP has constantly declined from 11 to 2.6 percent between 1950 and 2008. Altogether the agricultural exports have decreased from 60 percent to 2 percent.8 In contrast, the agriculture sector was formerly the backbone of the local economy, whereby the restrictions on water have significantly deduced the sector into a dependent and disjointed area.9 Despite being the core sector of employment, the agriculture sector to date struggles with access to water, impacting the livelihoods of thousands of farming communities across the oPt.10 Therefore, it is rather simplistic to contextualize water purely in economic terms, and thus looking at it as a tool of

Israeli-led planning of both civilian and military areas has been a core feature of its architecture in the oPt. One less-explored area is how water is manipulated to forcibly displace Palestinians from their lands. Consider the case of Area C in the Jordan Valley, where Israel maintains a â&#x20AC;&#x153;heightenedâ&#x20AC;? state of occupation and related practices: By disallowing the building of key infrastructure, including water systems, Area C regions are severely limited in their development and struggle with access to key basic services, among them water. Thus, for instance, the (at least) 300,000 Palestinians5 who live in Area C have irregular access to water and depend on tankers for their water supply. Moreover, in the Jordan Valley, Israel isolates and routinely destroys irrigation projects along Road 90,6 which has a devastating effect on the farming and herding communities in nearby villages. Israel also denies Palestinians their share of water from the Jordan River that amounts to 250 million cubic meters annually as stipulated by 6

Wide sections of the water networks in Gaza were destroyed in the 2014 assault.

war and displacement provides a new dimension.

drastically given the poor state of existing water-related infrastructure. Various studies have noted that across at least 85 communities water prices have increased by 60 percent since the beginning of the occupation. Moreover, it was documented that before the second Intifada, the average cost ranged between 5 and 10 NIS/m3 and is typically a high of 20 to 25 NIS/m3.13 In 2003, PCBS documented that the additional costs at the national level via the use of tankered water14 (instead of networks) are as high as 176.5 million NIS annually.15 These conditions have ripple effects across other sectors, among them the health sector that is highly concerned about the risks of waterborne diseases, especially in vulnerable Palestinian communities.

The economics of water It is important to highlight that indeed the control of water is a means of economically undermining the Palestinian productive sectors. As witnessed across the oPt since 1967, the agriculture sector has suffered substantially under Israeli occupation practices. 11 Similarly, other basic ser vices that are dependent on planning and access to water, among them health and education, also face restrictions and impairment given the barriers towards Palestinian control of natural resources. This is specifically evident in the cases of Area C, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, where poor infrastructure and targeted policies are crippling the local economy and state of social services. In 2009, the World Bank produced a study on water, citing that water expenses amounts to at least 8 percent of the average West Bank household income.12 Further, the report also highlighted that while the costs are rising, the overall quality is deteriorating

Poor environmental practices and water degradation Consider the erosion of the Jordan River, where unsustainable policies and the overuse of important resources have helped engender a drastic reduction in water levels. These shortages have severely impacted Palestinian farmers 7

and Bedouin communities, while settlers and settlements continue to be granted far greater access to water networks and subsidies reducing their costs of agricultural operations. An estimated 98 percent decline in the water flow of the Jordan River has been reported over the past four decades.16 These conditions have also affected the biodiversity of the area, including continual shifts in salinity levels of the Dead Sea, which in turn poses more serious threats to overall groundwater resources in the region. In response, Israel has been pushing toward the development of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance Project, which seeks to channel water from the Red Sea to the

Dead Sea with the aim of rehabilitating the Dead Sea and supplementing the water supply of the Jordan River. The project includes the forging of complex water systems and pipelines that will transport an estimated 2 billion cubic meters annually from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea; it also encompasses a hydropower plant that is designed to generate approximately 850 megawatts of electricity and provide power for a desalination plant to treat an estimated 800â&#x20AC;&#x201C;850 million cubic meters of fresh water annually. However, the proposed pipeline is widely contested due to questions regarding its effectiveness and economical feasibility as well as predicted environmental damages

t o t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y 17 t h a t seriously undermine other sustainable approaches to improving the natural flow of water resources. Interestingly, a World Bank report indicates that both Jordan and Israel profit by approximately US$ 4.2 billion through annual sales of products sourced from Dead Sea minerals,18 while the Red Sea-Dead Sea project is decisive in regenerating the site toward continued extraction and exploitation of these valuable minerals. It should also be noted that while Israel is championing the pipeline project, it has forbidden Palestinians from making use of the Jordan River since its military occupation of 1967. Moreover, Israeli private-sector companies have

contributed to the natural disaster that is threatening the Dead Sea by limiting recharge of water (diverting waters from the Jordan River via the National Water Carrier to the south of Israel since the 1950s) and through overuse of Dead Sea water in the production of potash and methyl-bromide fertilizers on the shore, causing pollution and damage. Other practices have resulted in the devastation of local springs in the Jordan Valley, particularly in the village of Al-Auja, which is a key site for further investigation in order to grasp how water policies have devastated the historic landscape of Palestine.

Conclusion and recommendations There is a critical need to revise and rectify the damage to water systems across the oPt. To do so, both publicand private-sector agents must work collectively to produce a long-term strategy that combines programming and advocacy in order to challenge Israeli water wars that have negatively impacted the oPt since 1967. Firstly, water resources across rural and urban areas must be understood in a contiguous manner. The planning of water infrastructure in rural and urban areas must be harmonized and should be better designed for sustainable and long-term use. The various stakeholders must invest in key opportunities for building on emerging technologies to harvest and recycle water, which is mainly applicable at the urban level, whereas in rural communities desalination and measurements for sustainable use can help increase production in the agriculture sector and support industrial development. Secondly, damages to the landscape can be reversed by investing in the local environment and researching techniques to convert nonproductive areas into productive sites for key development. Thirdly, traditional large-scale infrastructure developments are needed to help improve the state of water and drinking-water quality and

access across areas such as Gaza, Area C, and East Jerusalem. This will help reduce the rising costs of tankered water, and increase access while regulating quality.

in the agriculture sector of the oPt. Hussain is founder and director of Refutrees, a Canadian start-up that works across refugee communities on green projects, and, along with MA’AN Development Center, has launched the Kale Project Palestine to advance crop diversity and organic farming with small-scale farming communities. She serves as a policy adviser for the UNDP PAPP and other global think-tanks.

Lamya Hussain is a PhD candidate at SOAS with the Department of Development Studies. Her work and research seek to investigate the gaps

For a definition of settler-colonialism, see Edward Cavanagh and Lorenzo Veracini (2010) at https:// settlercolonialstudies.org/about-this-blog/.

De-development as a theory was first coined by Sara Roy in 2001.

Prominent among such reports is “Troubled Waters: How Palestinians are denied fair access to water,” Amnesty International, 2009, available at https://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/mde150272009en.pdf.

Ian Black, “Water Under the Bridge: How the Oslo Agreement Robbed the Palestinians,” The Guardian, February 4, 2013, available at https://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/feb/04/israel-palestinianswater-arafat-abbas.

Amira Hass, “UN Report: 300,000 Palestinians Live in Area C of West Bank,” Haaretz, March 5, 2014, available at http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.577997.

Jordan Valley Solidarity, Water Rights, 2008, available at http://jordanvalleysolidarity.org/background-info/ water-rights-in-the-jordan-valley/.

Camilla Corradin, “Israel: Water as a Tool to Dominate Palestinians,” Al Jazeera Middle East, June 19, 2016, available at http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/israel-water-tool-dominatepalestinians-160619062531348.html.

Economy: Sectors of the Israeli Economy. See: http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/Economy/Pages/ ECONOMY-%20Sectors%20of%20the%20Economy.aspx.

See World Bank Report on Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy, http://www-wds.worldbank. org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2014/01/23/000442464_20140123122135/Rendered/ PDF/AUS29220REPLAC0EVISION0January02014.pdf. See also publications by MA’AN Development Center, PARC, etc.

See PCBS data on agriculture and employment between 1980 and 2000.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), The Besieged Palestinian Agricultural Sector, 2015, available at http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/gdsapp2015d1_en.pdf.

Assessment and Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Development, The World Bank, 2009, available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWESTBANKGAZA/Resources/WaterRestrictionsReportJuly2009.pdf.

Water and Sanitation, Hygiene Monitoring Panel (WaSH MP) reports, such as “Water for Life: Continued Israeli Assault on Palestinian Water, Sanitation and Hygiene during the Intifada” (2005), available at http://phg.org/ wash-mp/index.asp?i=39.

The average cubic meter of water via piped networks costs NIS 6 (i.e., $1.60). Meanwhile, tankered water costs NIS 19 (i.e., $5.20). Given high unemployment rates and issues of chronic poverty, the costs of water are relatively higher than most people can afford.

Preliminary calculations from Palestine Economic Research Institute MAS, 2009c (draft).

See also Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia, Jordan River Basin, published by the UN in cooperation with German institutions, available at http://waterinventory.org/surface_water/jordan-river-basin.

Greta Link, “Red Sea – Dead Sea Canal and the Feasibility Study of the World Bank,” Global Nature Fund, available at https://www.globalnature.org/bausteine.net/f/8005/RedSea-DeadSeaCanalandFeasibilityStudyof theWorldBank.pdf?fd=2.

Orhan Niksik, et al., “Area C and the Future of the Palestinian Economy,” The World Bank, 2014, available at https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/18930/893700PUB0978100Box385270B00PUBLIC0.pdf?sequence=1.

Bitter Water

Prospects for Gaza By Clemens Messerschmid

below the northern Negev, which today is part of Israel. These highchloride contents were mapped by the British Mandate Government of Palestine.1 The aquifer in Gaza is an inseparable part of the much larger Coastal Aquifer Basin (CAB) that surrounds the tiny Strip. The Coastal Aquifer extends along the Mediterranean coast, reaching from as far north as Mount Carmel (south of Haifa) to Gaza and farther into the Sinai Peninsula, almost as far as the Suez Canal. During the British Mandate, Palestinians and immigrant Zionist settlers competed in the drilling of wells in this basin; in fact, the large majority of all wells drilled during this era were drilled here. This aquifer is shallow and lies in the plains since wells do not have to be drilled deep to reach the water that was readily used on the

Salinity in the Coastal Aquifer during the British Mandate and in 2004–2005. Maps: UK National Archive and C. Messerschmid.

he water malaise in Gaza long ago became chronic and legendary, but if we want to understand the deeper causes of this disaster that is unfolding before our eyes, we must go back deeper into the past and look at factors seemingly unrelated to water. It is hard to believe, but in the ancient days of Alexander the “Great,” Gaza was an oasis, renowned for its sweet and fresh water sources. Technically speaking, Gaza has a layer of fresh groundwater skimming over the deeper, more brackish groundwater strata. Contrary to contemporary common narrative, however, this brackish (slightly saline) condition is a natural hydro-geological state that has been both present and well known for a long time: very large amounts of such groundwater – an estimated 37 million cubic meters annually (mcm/a) – flow in naturally, coming from southeastern directions, i.e., from

Historic and current water levels in the Coastal Aquifer basin (orange and red colors indicate zones with groundwater levels below sea level).

Photo by Shareef Sarhan.

spot in the large irrigated plantations, such as the famous Palestinian citrus orchards.2 Already by the late 1930s, par ts of the Coastal Aquifer were over-pumped to such an extent that seawater was intruding into the fresh groundwater body along the coast. Such saline intrusions take place when the groundwater level is lowered by well pumping beneath sea level. 12

In other words, even the second famous feature of today’s water problems in Gaza is much older than usually narrated. Here, however, we can already see one of Gaza’s unique problems: Shor tly after the Nakba, Israel had to address the dramatic lowering of groundwater tables in some parts of 13

the CAB (especially south of Tel Aviv). But at the time, Israel could simply diversify and distribute the drilling and pumping areas more evenly over the entire aquifer (then already ethnically cleansed of almost all Palestinian agriculture in Israel). This was not possible in Gaza. The Nakba is the primary and basic reason for all water qualms of Gaza today – for three reasons.

domestic supply level of 100 l/c/d. Today’s West Bank lies far below this level with only 73 l/c/d, whereas Israel enjoys far more than 250 l/c/d of domestic supplies.] And this incredible figure does not even refer to domestic use but contains the water used in agriculture by the original Gazan farmers [who tried as best they could to continue their irrigation methods as before the Nakba].

a) The Gaza district before the Nakba was larger than today’s Strip (1,113 km2) and, until 1947, under a full process of development. Seventythree wells existed at the end of the Mandate, with a combined pumping potential of over 26 mcm/a. As a result of the mass-scale expulsions and land robbery, the Strip found itself with only 62 wells (2 mcm/a) in 1949. After the Nakba, Gaza had access to only 2 percent of former developed groundwater resources (both Jewish and Palestinian use). This alone constitutes an incredible degree of expropriation and dedevelopment.

c) The third significant condition that stoked Gaza even back then was the isolation of the Strip from its hinterland – the rest of Palestine. Despite this catastrophic starting point, during the 19 years under Egyptian rule, Gaza developed at an extremely rapid pace. Over 1,099 new wells were drilled, which is equal to an average of more than one new well drilled every week! It is interesting to note that after 1967 in Gaza, unlike in the West Bank, the Israeli occupation did not impose a total cap on all groundwater development.3 Nevertheless, the speed dropped dramatically, and only 630 new wells were drilled over the next 25 years even though the population kept growing and had reached over 750,000 by the time of the Oslo Accords (1993/1995). During the 1970s and 1980s, the pressure for expanded farming was kept at bay, however, as much of the Gazan labor force was absorbed inside Israel. Already years before Oslo, Israel had started to implement heavy movement restrictions and closure regimes on

b) In addition, however, within one year (by 1949) the population had tripled to 240,000. The Nakba laid the foundations for the over-crowdedness of the Strip as it brought a large number of refugees. The increase in population combined with the low well production brought Gaza to catastrophic water supply levels of less than 20 liters/capita/day. [The WHO suggests a minimum

Gaza, which depended much more on work in Israel than the West Bank. For most ordinary Gazan workers, the closures that preceded and continued under the Oslo Accords exacted a heavy economic toll. Regarding water supplies, Gaza was experiencing emergency situations that were widely recognized even in the 1990s. More wells were drilled and the total pumpage – over 100mcm/yr – long outstripped sustainable recharge from all sources.4

5,000 wells!), which only deepened the water deficit. Each consequent incursion and bombing campaign of course resulted in a further dilapidation of the water infrastructure that, due to its old age, was already frail, ailing, and overstretched. The permanent status of Gaza as a hermetically sealed open-air prison camp acts more silently but even more devastatingly. It is here that we have to speak about one of the most basic and at the same time misleading misconceptions about Gaza: It is often stated and alleged that Gaza is the most populated land on earth. This is wrong, not only with regard to quantitative figures, but more importantly, on a conceptual level. Gaza is not a country! By all means, and especially from a technical point of view, Gaza – the whole of the Gaza Strip – is simply a large city (2 million), and not even a particularly crowded one at that.

A last catastrophic turn of events followed the Israeli redeployment in 2005. In the summer of 2006, the first of many Israeli aggressions against Gaza came as a shock for the population. When electricity plants were targeted, millions went without power and thus water supply. As a result, a real frenzy of new uncoordinated shallow well drilling followed in the years after (more than an estimated

Table 1 Recharge and Abstractions in Gaza (in mcm/a) RECHARGE

mcm

OUTFLOWS

mcm

Rainfall

Municipal wells

94.2

Brackish inflow from Negev

36.4

Agricultural wells

80.4

Returns from agriculture, leakage

54.2

To the Sea

Seawater intrusion

TOTAL

145.6

TOTAL

176.6

Gaza is Manhattan – urban supply from outside. Map courtesy of NYC Department of Environmental Protection, 2009, superimposition of borders and bodies of water in Israel Palestine by Messerschmid.

Over-abstractions: 31 mcm/a = 21% 14

Both maps are to scale; Palestine is superimposed over New York. The Gaza Strip and Manhattan are both shown in red. The population of these two entities is comparable with around 1.6 to 1.7 million. In pink are the other par ts of NYC (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx). The Hudson River flowing south into New York Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound are superimposed onto Israel and the West Bank with the National Water Carrier, Lake Tiberias, and the Dead Sea. In two shades of green are shown

the water sources for NYC (the Croton and Catskill/Delaware Watersheds), located as far away from NYC as Lake Tiberias from Gaza. On the contrary, what sets Gaza apart from other cities on the globe is its total isolation, its unnatural separation from the hinterland. No other city in the world is hermetically sealed off from all sides; there is no city located along the seashore that lacks a functioning harbor, etc. The very essence of an urban space is its connection to the adjacent rural areas, its hinterland. No city on earth could survive without daily intensive exchange of resources, which, in water terms, means that there is no city on earth that supplies itself from within its perimeter. But we constantly try to apply this false paradigm in a hopeless attempt to square the circle by suggesting measures (practical projects) that aim to secure a “sustainable supply” of water from Gaza on its own and from within its own overcrowded “urban” realm. Try to seal off Manhattan from its hinterland and then tell the mayor to supply its population by drilling wells in Central Park or by digging under the Empire State Building to install rainwaterharvesting cisterns. This is truly an odd and bizarre idea, yet we constantly prescribe exactly this for Gaza. The poor remainder of the Jordan River at the Dead Sea.

The latest donor-driven suggestion, which is now accepted by the PA, is the idea of large-scale desalination! This suggestion is the oddest of all and condemned to fail utterly and inevitably. Desalinated seawater is the most expensive of all “resources” – so the poorest should engage in the most costly luxury alternatives of water supply. Desalination of course is simply a large and entirely un-ecological endeavor that basically turns precious fossil fuels (oil or gas) into the most mobile element on earth, water – so Gaza would simply substitute its dire lack of water with an even worse lack of fuel and electricity. And the chronic electricity and fuel shortage is already

more painful and dire than the water shortcomings. Would anyone suggest that crowded Tel Aviv should supply itself purely from within its own city limits? Or even Beer Sheva, with its much larger hinterland; could it ever be supplied from its own local resources? Even more important and dangerous is the political consequence of the approach that suggests that Gaza should be independent from its surrounding hinterland. Under international water law, Gaza has a right to a fair share of the Coastal Aquifer Basin. Gaza cannot be separated from the rest of Palestine.

Jordan River out of its basin. Every year, 350 million m3 are pumped from Lake Tiberias into a canal that nearly reaches Nazareth and then into a large central pipeline backbone that crosses the entire coastal plain and reaches to the Negev in the south. These quantities are missing in the lower Jordan River.

Gaza must be supplied from outside, just like New York, London, Paris, or Munich. The water-rich West Bank purchases ever-increasing amounts of water from Mekorot Company (Israel), while Gaza should look after itself? This is pure and 100-percent Israeli long-standing logic and hydropolitical rationale. The historical Palestinian struggle for water rights, for an “equitable and reasonable share of trans-boundary water resources,” which is enshrined in international water law, is abandoned under this new paradigm. The Israeli Negev has a surplus of water because the entire upper Jordan River is transferred at Lake Tiberias into the National Water Carrier, which passes Gaza at its doorstep. Huge amounts of surplus water are literally flowing past Gaza, while the Strip keeps drying up.

In other words, Israel transfers (steals) the Jordan River out of its natural basin to accommodate its new settlers and its kibbutzim and moshavim in the Coastal Plain and Negev. One could say that the Jordan River today flows towards Gaza – or rather passes Gaza without sharing a drop.

The National Water Carrier – the new Jordan River In 1964, Israel opened its century project, illegally transferring the entire 16

There is no other practical, cheap, readily available, and lasting solution than providing large-scale water supply for Gaza from outside, from Israel. Never theless, two arguments are typically brought up against this suggestion:

The National Water Carrier that replaces the Jordan River and transfers it to the Negev (northeast of Nazareth).

“But Gaza should be independent from Israel!” “But we cannot bank on a perpetual supply from Israel!” As stated above, shining, newly built, highly expensive desalination plants on the coast are wor th nothing if a cheap and constant flow of fuel or electricity is not available. Even under a best-case scenario, Gaza would have to buy electric power for its water rather than directly buying natural freshwater at much lower costs. This is a technical, financial argument. But even more importantly, from a principle point of view: It is not only extremely dangerous and damaging for Gaza to join the Zionist discourse of “Gaza should supply itself,” it is simply and technically impossible. A sustainable city without hinterland is inconceivable; it is a contradiction in itself. Largescale water purchase from Israel is as imperative as it is pragmatic. But this suggestion is far from subduing to the Zionist rationale of Yitzhak Rabin, “May Gaza sink into the sea.” On the contrary, it is the only path that combines a practical solution with a longterm perspective of sufficient and sustainable supplies for Gaza, the only option that combines a readily available supply of freshwater with the historical Palestinian struggle for water rights, against continued deprivation, dispossession, and discrimination – not only, but certainly also in water terms.

paradigm, Palestinian demands – in harmony with long-term interests and hydro-political traditions in the struggle over water rights – would switch to a new approach: turning these costly external purchases into a continuous supply guaranteed under international water law – as par t of the Gazan (Palestinian) right to “equitable and reasonable allocations” from shared water resources.8

right to a “reasonable and equitable share” of the resources in “transboundary water courses.”5 Make no mistake: Palestinians would still – in the short term – have to struggle for an acceptable price of such water supplies from Israel.6 But instead of sinking billions into desalination plants without fuel, international donors could easily subsidize the price difference for the time being – that is, until a final-status agreement over water can be achieved.7

A solution that proposes large-scale and continued supply from outside – as for any other city on earth –is at the same time highly pragmatic and readily implementable, as it is in line with the historical struggle and water interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza and beyond.

Once a long-term arrangement of water purchase by Palestinians is in place, the struggle could switch to a new paradigm in line with the historical struggle: Palestinians should openly announce and consider this supply as part of their fair share of natural trans-boundary allocations of natural blue water. This is because much of this water comes from the Jordan River at Lake Tiberias. Under this new

Clemens Messerschmid is a German hydrogeologist. He has been living and working in Ramallah since 1997.

In the northeast Negev, salt rocks underlie the Pleistocene gravel and sandstones that form the Coastal Aquifer. When this salt is dissolved, a so-called leachate is mobilized and flows into the fresh groundwater body of the Coastal (and Gaza) Aquifer.

Most agriculture before the Nakba was in Palestinian hands, but even in irrigated agriculture, a majority of land was Palestinian, thus outweighing the rapidly growing Jewish irrigated agriculture.

This is because Gaza lies downstream in the shared aquifer basin. Whatever Gaza can pump will hardly affect Israeli abstractions at all. Conversely, the West Bank lies upstream and any groundwater pumped from wells there will not cross into Israel. Israel’s differential hydro-political regime is a direct consequence of its harsh resource egoism with respect to the oPt.

Illegal settler pumpage was comparatively low – only 8 mcm/yr inside Gaza – but indicated an incredibly high per-capita consumption, along a purely racist differentiation between privileged Israeli colonists and a discriminated against, ever-more-dispossessed population.

The term trans-boundary watercourse refers to water in international basins – here shared between Israel and “Palestine.”

This is because Israel currently tries to impose very high prices at the equivalent of desalination costs for the water sold at high rates to the West Bank (>60mcm/a). At least in the short term, Palestinians will have a hard time acquiring this water at the true and much lower costs of natural blue water – taken from groundwater wells or, indeed, stolen from the Jordan River at Lake Tiberias.

And such a temporary subsidy mechanism would, for the first time ever, change the formula of foreign donor aid: Donors would have a vested financial interest in actually terminating the endless spiral of Oslo “interim periods” and pressure for a fair, lasting solution to end the intolerable status quo. By contrast, it is exactly those desalination plants that carry the false promise that technical solutions were available to render the occupation tenable and sustainable, and thus to continue forever…

For example, this water could be declared the Palestinian share over the Jordan River, now channeled to Gaza, not to the West Bank. Or, alternatively, these quantities could be considered Gaza’s fair share on the CAB – which, in any case, is larger than the quantities inside the Strip, according to international water law. But many other options are possible and should be considered thoroughly.

This historical struggle in the dry terms of international water law can be expressed as the 18

Freedom of Movement Theme of the seventeenth Palestine International Festival for Dance and Music 2016 As in every year, the Palestine International Festival for Dance and Music 2016 focuses on a vital issue of concern to the Palestinian people. This year, the festival chose “Freedom of Movement” – in its broadest sense – as its main theme, placing special focus on limitations of mobility within Palestine that are caused by Israeli check points, the Apartheid Wall, travel restrictions for Palestinians, restrictions that deny family unification, the siege of Gaza, and last but not least the Israeli practice of denying entry of foreign nationals into Palestine. The festival hopes to attract international attention by artistically interpreting the concept “Freedom of Movement” in its various nightly cultural performances. To the best of its capacity, the Popular Art Centre intends to challenge the policies of the occupation, and allow maximum Palestinian participation, by performing in different cities and towns throughout Palestine. To this purpose, PAC will arrange busses to transport the audience between the governorates that are hosting the respective cultural events. Thus, as an embodiment of geographical and political unity and in order to complete the artistic and cultural scene, the Popular Art Centre insists that the festival will also reach the Gaza Strip and will challenge the blockade and oppression imposed by the occupation authorities on Palestinians in general and on our people in the Gaza Strip in particular. The Palestine International Festival for Dance and Music 2016 will host a number of renowned local, regional, and international artists and bands that include Soul 47 (Britain), Tarabband (Sweden), Ghalia Ben Ali (Tunisia), Iskandarella (Egypt) in addition to the following bands and troupes that are from Palestine: El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, Revolution Chorus, Dawaween Band, Al-Anqa’ Band, Shams Al-Karama Band, and Naqsh Popular Art Troupe. Since its inception in 1993, the Palestine International Festival for Dance and Music 2016 has constituted a creative means to communicate with the different cultures of the world, breaking the cultural blockade imposed on our people by the occupation and adding cultural and artistic value to the lives of Palestinians residing in Palestine. 20

Palestinian thirst for justice

The Water of Life – Not in Palestine A KAIROS Perspective

By Hind Khoury

Gaza, a growing human catastrophe

It is obvious that the centrality of water is crucial for life and human dignity. However, Israeli apar theid policies and practices contribute to an alarming water shortage that denies Palestinians their most basic rights, threatens their very existence on their land, and is leading to a “drying out” of Palestine. Since 1967, existing shared groundwater resources in historical Palestine (Israel proper and the occupied Palestinian territory) are inequitably and unjustly exploited to serve Israel and its colonial settlers who are given access to 80 percent of the water, according to Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organization. In addition, all the sur face water provided by the Jordan River is diverted to Israel, whereas Palestinians are totally denied access to this vital resource.

The groundwater resource in Gaza has been depleted from overuse as Israel, since 1956, has impeded the natural flow of groundwater that runs into this aquifer. Since 2007, as part of its water embargo, Israel has surrounded the borders of the Gaza Strip with many deep wells that divert the waters of Wadi Ghaza to Israeli agricultural fields in the Negev Desert prior to their arrival in Gaza. For many years, water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza have been the regular targets of Israeli attacks and destruction. Overcrowding, the three recent wars, and the military siege have led to a total contamination of the groundwater, making it unfit for human consumption and leading to waterborne diseases, thus precipitating in Gaza one of the worst catastrophes in the world related to the lack of drinking water.

UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of the Child lists access to safe water as a basic right.

alestine lies in a desert area of the world and historically has been a parched land where water has been and continues to be the genuine source and essence of life. Hence it is no coincidence that water has significant symbolism for the monotheistic faiths, for water is a source of life and a gift of God to all: “To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6) Christians, for example, are launched in their faith through baptism in water; and in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:4–10), the dialogue between Jesus, a Jew, and the Samaritan woman makes it very clear: water is life and should be distributed equally to everyone irrespective of his or her cultural, religious, or ethnic background. One can even draw the conclusion that everyone is responsible to work for access to water for all in this world. In today’s world, we call this right to have access to water a human right. 22

Kairos is a Greek word that refers to urgent action NOW and was adopted from the New Testament. Kairos Palestine followed the example of the churches in South Africa as they participated in the anti-apartheid struggle.

pursue such acutely discriminatory policies in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with total impunity, and Why is international law selectively imposed on some and not on others? It is also impor tant to underline that in order to justify such policies and practices, Israel uses religious narrative that gives it an unconditional exclusive right to land and resources in this country and even the right to oust and dehumanize the Palestinian people. While it is an oxymoron for a modern nation state to draw legitimacy from the Bible, Kairos Palestine (KP) also calls for “repentance: to revisit fundamentalist theological positions that support certain unjust political options with regard to the Palestinian people. It is a call to stand alongside the oppressed and preserve the word of God as good news for all rather than to turn it into a weapon with which to slay the oppressed.” (KP: 6.1)

Photo by Basel El Maqousi.

In the footsteps of Gaza

colonial settlers, with their agricultural and industrial investments, quality housing, lawns, and swimming pools, exceeds that of Israelis living within Israel proper.

After decades of occupation, the water issue is one of the most basic problems also in the West Bank, where Palestinians are barely given access to 20 percent of this important resource.

According to Ma’an Development Centre, Israel as the occupying power has furthermore isolated hundreds of wells and prohibits Palestinians from using them. The Israeli administration decides the location and depth of new wells – and these decisions are generally granted in favor of Israeli settlement companies. Israeli fruit and vegetable exporters, such as Mehadrin or Arava, produce fruits like dates, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, and a lot more for the big European supermarket chains, while Palestinian farmers have to manage with the little land and water they are allowed to use and hence produce even too little for the domestic market.

With the Oslo process, which divides the West Bank into areas A, B, and C, things have become even worse. A so-called Joint Water Committee has been established in order to distribute West Bank water resources equitably to both Israelis and Palestinians. Israel has never applied this principle to Area C, which constitutes 61 percent of the West Bank area. Any development project in Area C requires the Israeli Civil Administration’s approval, which is usually denied to Palestinians for socalled security reasons – but which is surely approved for Israeli settlements. In fact, the water consumption of 24

Impunity and double standards It is surprising that Israel, with total impunity, has been allowed to adamantly pursue such policies for almost half a century of military occupation in spite of the dire consequences its actions have on the Palestinian people’s health, quality of life, and livelihoods. These policies and practices are the main reasons why agriculture, a stable Palestinian economic sector that historically has been the source of food for the population and has provided employment especially for women, is in a state of constant and dangerous shrinkage. Israel’s denial of the Palestinian right to the water of life is a well-known fact, well documented by the United Nations and other international organizations. In this context, the main questions become: Why was Israel allowed to

A Kairos call for resistance The Kairos Palestine document, launched in 2009 by Christian Palestinians from the heart of Palestinian suffering, is a call to Palestinians and the world to resist the injustice of Israeli occupation as a right and a duty. “Seeing the image of God in the face of the enemy means taking up positions in the light of this vision of active resistance to stop the injustice and oblige the perpetrator to end his aggression and thus achieve the desired goal, which is getting 25

back the land, freedom, dignity, and independence.” (KP document: 4.2.3)

justice-driven entities that stand up for Palestinian rights and justice for all as the only way to true peace. In this context, the WCC launched its seven-week campaign entitled Thirst for Justice – A Pilgrimage of Water Justice in the Middle East. The campaign was launched last year during Lent – the fasting period for Christians that precedes the Easter celebrations. This

As a movement that calls for nonviolent resistance to the occupation and to injustice, Kairos Palestine advocates for creative resistance in the logic of love and draws on all energies to make peace. “The culture of love is the culture of accepting the other. Through it we perfect ourselves, and the foundations of society are established.” (KP: 5.4.3) This is a humanistic approach that allows an exit from the cycle of violence and concentrates on correcting the evil done to people, their lives, and their livelihood. Palestinians have opted to resist creatively through their Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to halt the occupation’s discriminatory and unjust policies and practices, as did their brethren in South Africa and in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Many organizations and institutions are rightly engaging in divestment and the economic and commercial boycott of what is produced by the occupation. It is hard to accept that there are international entities that support occupation and discrimination. For example, Mekorot, the Israeli public water company, enjoys massive international investments as it has cooperation agreements with countries around the world. We at Kairos Palestine understand that divestment and boycott integrate the logic of love and peaceful resistance. Its objective is not revenge but rather to put an end to the existing evil and ongoing impunity, hence liberating both the perpetrators and the victims of injustice. Freeing both peoples from extremist positions of different Israeli governments brings both justice and reconciliation.

coordinator since 2012. But instead of abiding by ethical standards, the Israeli government refuted the arguments set forth by the WCC. The New York-based Gatestone Institute has accused WCC of spreading lies and says that Palestinian water management is to blame. Suna refutes the accusations that WCC demonizes Israel: “Throughout the campaign, all our sources are well-

Palestine, many adopt a practical, action-driven approach to express their solidarity. Hence, our hope and our faith are strong that the right to life will eventually be realized also for Palestinians to confirm what Martin Luther Jr. said: “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.”

People living in Area C have access on average to only 20 l/c/d, only one fifth of amount recommended by the WHO. Photo by Basel El Maqousi.

campaign aimed to draw the attention of Christians around the world to the plight of the Palestinian people in accessing their water and to pressure Israel to change its policies and practices. “The primary objective of the Lenten Campaign was to engage people on the issue around World Water Day, celebrated on March 22, which always falls during Lent,” says Suna who has been the Ecumenical Water Network

The World Council of Churches (WCC) speaks out In our struggle for justice we need a conscientious world that lives true to its responsibilities. Hope comes from 26

documented… we are highlighting the plight of Palestinians with regard to access to water. The occupation is responsible for this injustice in water distribution. We are urging the Israeli authorities to address this issue.”

Hind Khoury is general director of the KAIROS Palestine movement. References Al Haq 2013, “Water for One People Only – Discriminatory Access and ‘Water-Apartheid’ in the OPT.”

Many forces and entities around the world are increasingly engaged in action to restore life and dignity to the Palestinian people. Alongside Kairos

Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), 2012, “Water Resource Allocations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Responding to Israeli Claims.” StopTheWall Factsheet: “Israel’s water company Mekorot – Nurturing Water Apartheid in Palestine.”

Seawater Desalination A Solution to Gaza’s Lack of Safe Drinking Water The seawater desalination plant as seen from the sky in April 2016. Photo courtesy of UNICEF.

By June Kunugi and Gregor von Medeazza

European Union, UNICEF, PWA, and CMWU are close to finalizing construction of a € 10 million seawater desalination plant.

n Gaza, there is a perfect storm, and it is underground. The shallow coastal aquifer, historically the main source of water for the population, is being over-extracted for domestic and agricultural use. The deficit created causes seawater to flow in, as well as surface water contaminated with fertilizers and untreated sewage. In some areas, levels of chlorides and nitrates are as high as six times the World Health Organization (WHO) limit. It exposes people to the risk of water-borne diseases and health disorders, which for the most vulnerable, including children, can be life-threatening. More than 95 percent of the groundwater extracted from the aquifer is unfit for human consumption.i Meanwhile, the needs for fresh water keep increasing. As Gaza’s population continues to grow at a steep annual rate of about three percent, a 2012 United Nations reportii predicted that water demand would increase by 60 percent over eight years, to reach 260 million cubic meters in 2020. It also warned that the aquifer could become unusable by the end of 2016, and that the damages may become irreversible as early as 2020. Well aware that tap water makes them sick, 9 out of 10 people depend on desalinated water in Gaza, 81 percent of which comes from the private sector.iii This is not only a heavy burden on already impoverished families, but it also represents a health hazard: 28

studies show that 72 percent of the population in Gaza depends on water that is contaminated in 68 percent of the cases,iv despite recent efforts led by the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) to monitor its quality.

is on average as low as 63 percent,vi saving on water losses through leaks in Gaza’s municipal water distribution system, and avoid raw sewage flooding in residential areas. In addition, organizations such as UNICEF have advocated and invested in alternative water sources, using the resources at hand. Gaza’s water should also come from the sea, as Gaza is blessed with an expansive Mediterranean coastline. This technique has already been used with success in several water-stressed Western and Gulf countries.

Drinking water comes from the desalination of brackish groundwater drawn from the aquifer, which has more salinity than potable water. The coastal enclave hosts about 155 ground (brackish) water plants – 130 private and 25 public, including 13 supplied by UNICEF (which source water from pre-existing wells). Public desalination plants provide clean water in the most vulnerable neighborhoods and where there is high groundwater pollution.

Seawater can be desalinated to produce fresh water suitable for human consumption, while avoiding overuse and the total depletion of the Coastal Aquifer. Today’s advancements in reverse-osmosis technology have significantly reduced the price of desalinated water while making it cleaner and more energy-efficient, and enabling people to access safe drinking water at an affordable price.

As a result, water consumption needs to be controlled effectively. A reduction can be achieved by better conservation – improving irrigation and agricultural practices as well as storage of domestic water supplies. The rehabilitation of infrastructure will increase the overall water distribution efficiency, which 29

Thanks to a generous € 10 million grant from the European Union, UNICEF embarked upon building a major seawater desalination plant in 2014, with a daily production capacity of 6,000 m3. The project, which is nearing completion, will provide at least 75,000 Palestinians living in the southern Gaza Strip with 90 liters of affordable potable water per person daily.

The near-completion of the plant – the largest seawater desalination project in Gaza – is a symbol of hope and positive change, increasing access to safe water, which is essential for life and well-being, and helping meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable children and families in a sustainable manner.

Despite the 51-day hostilities in 2014, major gains have been made over the past two years. A 2000 m3 storage tank for desalinated water, several administrative and operational buildings, a 1.5 km power transmission line and electrical systems, an 18 km water distribution line, and seawater desalination systems based on the reverse-osmosis process have been constructed.

water will be tested to ensure that it meets the required international quality standards before it starts being supplied to families. Upon the successful completion of the testing phase, the plant will start operating to provide a reliable supply of safe drinkable water to 35,000 people in Khan Younis and 40,000 people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. This ambitious project, led by UNICEF and implemented in partnership with PWA and the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), will enable the residents to exercise their fundamental human right to safe drinking water.

On June 14, 2016, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, visited the EU-funded seawater desalination plant in southern Gaza, marking the beginning of extensive tests the plant will undergo this summer to check that the pumps, filters, and reverse-osmosis membranes function properly and at the required capacity. The desalinated

During a visit of the plant on 14 June 2016, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn announced an additional funding of € 10 Million for the second phase of the desalination plant. Photo courtesy of UNICEF SoP / El Bala.

be achieved if all consumers pay their water bills. For families, paying their bill in exchange for the desalinated water will be considerably cheaper than buying water from private vendors. It will also provide them with higherquality water, which will protect their own and their children’s health, and will neither corrode nor damage their water pipes and equipment inside their homes.

During his recent visit to the plant, EU Commissioner Hahn announced an additional funding of € 10 million for the second phase of the desalination plant. Building is slated to begin in 2017 and a third phase one year later. Once the three phases are completed, the plant will produce of a total of 20,000 m3 of safe, drinkable water daily. When fully operational, the full extension of the project would provide drinking water and water for domestic use to at least 250,000 beneficiaries – including around 125,000 children living in the most vulnerable communities of the Gaza Strip.

No child should have to go without safe drinking water. Turning on a tap to drink water should not be considered a luxury. Children and their families throughout the Gaza Strip should have access to safe drinking water. By working together, partnerships and commitment can provide life-giving water to the most vulnerable families, their children, and the children of their children, in a sustainable manner.

The plant is also the first step in a major national effor t to desalinate Mediterranean seawater. Seawater desalination is a strategic option chosen by PWA to help provide 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza – including nearly one million children – with safe drinking water and to curb over-extraction of groundwater from the coastal aquifer, in order to prevent an environmental disaster.

How does the seawater desalination plant work? The seawater desalination plant that UNICEF, CMWU, and PWA are building thanks to support from the European Union is based on a water treatment process called “reverse osmosis.” This water purification technology uses a semipermeable membrane to remove various types of dissolved and suspended solids – ions, molecules, and larger particles – from the water.

Large-scale seawater desalination can be a long-term solution for the Gaza Strip, provided there is enough electricity and fuel available to power the plants. Currently affected by one of the most serious energy and electricity crises since the beginning of the 2007 blockade, Palestinian families in Gaza experience on a daily basis rolling blackouts lasting from 12 to 16 hours. Here again, the innovative use of technology can help alleviate and mitigate the slowing down of production. Renewable sources of energy, such as solar energy producing electricity through photovoltaic panels, are being provided. In the current phase, about 12 percent of the plant’s peak energy requirement will be met by solar energy, and plans are drawn to harness the renewable energy potential to further increase this percentage.

First, seawater is pumped from four wells located on the beach close to the shoreline, to provide natural filtration and avoid any pollution that might exist in the seawater at its surface, which means that the need for expensive pretreatment processes is reduced. Second, seawater goes through several filtration and separation processes that remove any remaining suspended solids and most of the dissolved solids (the salts and minerals) in the water. The liquid is first pumped into a sand or multimedia filter to remove the large particles of the suspended solids. It then passes through a micro cartridge

To be sustainable, the plant will also need funds to support its operations and maintenance, something that can 31

Installation of the offshore part of the pipeline which will send brine (water with a high concentration of salt) back into the sea, far from the shore, after the plant has extracted drinkable water from seawater, in April 2016. Photo courtesy of UNICEF SoP / Barhoum.

filter to remove what remains of the fine particles of the suspended solids. Finally, it goes through the reverse osmosis membrane under very high pressure (60 times the atmospheric pressure). Only fresh water can pass through those membranes; the salts and pollution stay on the outer side of the membrane, forming a saline brine (liquid with a high salt concentration).

Fif th, the desalinated water is transferred to two mixing tanks, one in Rafah and one in Khan Younis. Once there, it will be mixed with water drawn from the aquifer and go through a final disinfection process with chlorine and a final quality test to meet drinking water standards. This will result in safe drinking water that contains the required salts and minerals that the human body needs, especially children’s bodies, in line with the World Health Organization’s water quality standards.

Third, the brine and the wastewater from the plant are safely discharged into the sea through a 200-meter-long pipeline partially installed on the seabed and a distribution system fitted with several nozzles to optimize dilution and dispersion 45 meters from the shore.

Sixth, the water is finally sent into the local water networks, through which it will reach the consumers.

of Palestine. Over the past 24 years, she has served in nine offices and countries, including in headquarters locations in New York and Tokyo; Southeast Asia, South Asia; CEE/CIS and the Middle East.

Dr. Gregor von Medeazza is the chief of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the State of Palestine. Over the past 14 years, he has served in a dozen countries, including in New York headquarters, Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

http://gaza.ochaopt.org/2015/04/120000-people-across-gaza-disconnected-from-the-water-network-dueto-unrepaired-war-damage/.

“Gaza in 2020—a Liveable Place?” United Nations Country Team in the occupied Palestinian territory, 2012.

iii

AFD, Public-Private-NGO Partnership for Adaptation to the Drinking Water Crisis in the Gaza Strip - Concept Paper - May 2016, page 1. Survey of Private and Public Brackish Desalination Plants in Gaza Strip which Will Provide the Necessary Data and Information to Improve the Drinking Water Supply in the Gaza Strip, CEP, PWA, GiZ, September 2015.

June Kunugi is the Special Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the State

Fourth, the fresh water is pumped into a water tank for final disinfection and pH adjustment. 32

Ibid.

CMWU, Gaza Water Supply and Sewage Systems Improvement Program, Annual Progress Report, 2014, January 2015.

Let It Flow

The Sabotage of Gaza’s Water and Sanitation Sector

By Camilla Corradin and Abeer Abu Shawish

routinely deny or restrict the entry of much-needed materials and items for such interventions, projects are being delayed for months or years – if not abandoned.

While the import of materials and equipment for essential water and sanitation projects is restricted, 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza only have access to as little as 86 liters of water per day – 100 being the World Health Organization’s minimum standard. Approximately 100,000 people remain disconnected from the water network. The aquifer continues to deteriorate.

Dual-use items: an Israeli security narrative that denies Palestinian water rights As a measure to enforce its blockade, the Israeli government severely restricts the entry into Gaza of “dualuse items” – materials and equipment that Israel believes could be used for purposes other than civilian ones (or, according to the Israeli definition, “goods and items liable to be used, side by side with their civilian purposes, for the development, production, installation, or enhancement of military capabilities and terrorist capacities”). The list is comprehensive – well beyond international standards – and vague. In addition to the numerous materials on the list, others can also be added

at the sole discretion of Israel. For instance, “service vehicles” can include well-drilling equipment and vacuum trucks to empty cesspits, whereas

s the Israeli blockade enters its tenth year, Gaza’s taps run drier and drier. The illegal Israeli blockade that inflicts collective punishment on 1.8 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip also means that houses lack the most essential items needed to provide clean water: pumps to abstract water; chemicals to purify it; and vehicles to empty sewage septic tanks that overflow or seep into the groundwater. How can water flow into Gaza’s pipes again as long as there is a siege? Since 2007, the Israeli blockade of Gaza has hindered the maintenance, rehabilitation, and development of the water and sewage infrastructure. As the Israeli authorities 36

Gaza City outskirts, April 2015: Children playing around the Wadi Gaza. The once fresh water river has turned, since the Israeli blockade, into an open sewage outlet carrying about 26,000 cubic meters a day of sewage to the sea. Photo by Massimo Berruti/VU’ for AFD.

“electromechanical equipment” can be interpreted as pumps needed to empty low-lying areas in case of flooding. Little of what is needed in the sector is left out.

at all – after the list of materials and the project itself are submitted for approval to the Israel authorities through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). As restricted items for the water and sanitation sector are very numerous and much more technically complex than the construction materials for which the mechanism was initially set up following the 2014 war, an answer can easily take months. Of 30 water and sanitation projects that have already been approved by the Israeli authorities under the GRM, 12 are at serious risk of not being implemented for lack of materials.

Along with vehicles and pumps, Israel considers 70 percent of the materials and equipment for essential water and sanitation projects to be “dual use” – projects that could mitigate the catastrophic water situation in Gaza. In order to be allowed entry into Gaza, the 23 items needed for the water and sanitation sector that are found on the dual-use list require Israeli approval, which can only be granted – if granted

Stenchy Summers Hazem hates summertime – the season of diseases and sewage stench. A father of five, Hazem lives in the village of Al-Qarara, east of Khan Younis. Just like 28 percent of the Gaza population, Hazem’s house is cut off from the sewage network, mainly as a result of war damages and lack of materials to carry out repairs. As a temporary solution, Hazem built a septic tank to collect the sewage – but as the tank is too small, wastewater often overflows onto the street.

“We do not want sewage to seep into the streets and harm our children. We have suffered enough; we just want to live like other human beings, free from microbes and harmful insects. Wastewater causes diseases and overburdens us with concerns about the future of our children.” Hazem from Gaza

Gaza, Khan Younis, April 2015: Children are playing among the rubble produced by the collapse of a water tanker destroyed during the 2014 war. Photo by Massimo Berruti/VU’ for AFD.

the area due to lack of wastewatertreatment facilities. Yet 12 years later the facility, whose progress was deemed “unsatisfactory” by the World Bank, which provides partial financing, is still not operating. The main reasons for this include “restrictions on the entry of critical construction materials and equipment” and “hostilities resulting in suspended works and damages to already completed infrastructure.” As a result, the lake, which had been drained at the beginning of the project, is now filling up again – putting at risk (again) the aquifer and the health of people who live close by. But this is no exception. In Gaza, around 100 millions cubic meters of raw or partially treated sewage pour into the Mediterranean Sea every day, marring Gaza’s summers.

Without access to materials for restoring, maintaining, and – most importantly – developing t he wa t er a n d s a n it a t ion infrastructure in Gaza, the quality of what is essentially the only freshwater supply for the Gaza Strip will rapidly continue to deteriorate, and people in Gaza will be exposed to a humanitarian and environmental disaster.

The sewage system and other water infrastructure, as well as the sole Gaza Power Plant, were targeted by Israeli attacks during the past three wars on Gaza, in complete disregard of international law that states that it is prohibited to “attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of a civilian population, such as [...] drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works.” Such attacks left wastewater treatment plants and networks damaged, if not destroyed. As a result, millions of liters of raw sewage have infiltrated the groundwater and damaged with nitrates Gaza’s only source of fresh water, the Coastal Aquifer. This, compounded by the intrusion of saline water resulting from over-abstraction, polluted the aquifer by 96.4 percent, which means that only 3.6 percent of it is fit for human consumption.

Although the international community donates funds for the reconstruction and recovery of Gaza’s water and sanitation sector, and considers making further financial commitments to new large-scale projects that require huge amounts of materials, it is doubtful whether such projects will ever be completed or function as planned, or whether the collapse of the aquifer can be avoided – given the lack of political action to hold Israel accountable and pressure it to lift the blockade. In the meantime, for yet another summer, people in Gaza will swim in seawater polluted with sewage, rinse themselves with salty tap water with dangerously high levels of nitrates, and quench their thirst with a glass of expensive yet bio-contaminated water. Camilla Corradin and Abeer Abu Shawish work to advocate for Palestinian water rights with the Emergency Water Sanitation and Hygiene (EWASH) coalition, a group of local and international organizations that work on water and sanitation in the West Bank and Gaza. Camilla is Italian and has lived in Ramallah for several years, and Abeer lives in Gaza. Both are passionate in defending human rights and promoting social and political change.

Given the struggle required to bring materials into Gaza, and the routine dramatic electricity shor tages, wastewater treatment plants still cannot function properly. The Northern Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment (NGEST) plant, for instance, was approved in 2004 to respond to a health and flood risk emergency resulting from a wastewater lake that had formed in 40

Palestinian Natural Springs Treasures Threatened by Loss and Confiscation

By Ayman Rabi

atural springs in Palestine have been historically the main source that provides life to people, land, and habitat. Many villages and towns were built and flourished around springs, and some of these springs are even today the main source of life for major cities such as Jericho.

Palestinian and had been used by Palestinians long before the existence of Israel and Israeli settlements. Until today, Fawwar and Qelt springs supply Aqabat Jaber Refugee Camp with drinking water; Nueimeh and Aldyouk springs supply Nueimeh with both drinking and agricultural water; Ein el-Sultan is the main source of water for Jericho; Ein Beit Elma and other springs for Nablus; Al-Matwi for Salfeet; and many more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the entire list is too long to be included in this ar ticle. Small and medium springs have also been the main source of water for villages and towns where Palestinians, especially women, used to fetch water on a daily basis for drinking, cooking, and other household needs, in addition to agricultural use.

order to protect the springs, preserve our Palestinian natural heritage, and secure additional water quantities under the increasing scarcity and shortage of water in Palestine that is caused mainly by Israeli control of water resources.

Springs are considered an important part of Palestinian natural heritage. This article will shed light on the main threats that face Palestinian springs and offer recommendations that should be adopted at a national level in

1. Negligence: The connection of many villages to water-supply systems has affected the reliance on

Villages and towns that are supplied through local sources, such as springs, become more water independent and more water secure even if this source supplies only enough to address a portion of their needs.

The main threats that face natural springs in the West Bank can be summarized as follows:

There used to be two times the number of springs in the West Bank than there are today (there are no springs in Gaza). The only study that documented most of the springs in the West Bank was that of the Palestinian Hydrology Group back in 1987â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1989, which documented around 400 natural springs in the West Bank with an average daily discharge ranging from as little as 0.1m3/hour to as much as 650 m3/hour. The largest 30 springs have been monitored and documented by the various ruling authorities, whereas the small and medium ones have not. Some of the large springs were tapped and pumped to supply drinking water to major cities and towns for years, and some still supply drinking water in addition to supplying water to sustain agriculture in the respective areas. For example, Fara and Fawwar springs east of Hizma Village used to supply many neighborhoods of Jerusalem with drinking water between 1920 and 1970; Ein Qinia - Delbeh Spring supplied water to Ramallah. Until the early seventies, Zaraqa, Delbeh, and Al-Qatan springs supplied drinking water to four villages, namely Deir Ghassaneh, Beit Reema, Qarawa Bani Zaid, and Kufur Ein, where infrastructure, including pipes, are still in place in witness to the fact that these springs are purely 42

Farah Pumping house and pipes. Photo courtesy of Palestinian Hydrology Group Archive.

springs as a source of drinking water, especially the small and medium springs, which in turn has lead to the abandonment of these springs, leaving them merely as a source for watering animals, wildlife, and some limited agriculture, without paying much attention to their maintenance and upkeep. This in turn has caused the partial or complete loss of some spring water.

of groundwater wells, especially Israeli wells that serve settlements in the West Bank, next to or within the springsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; effective zones has substantially lowered the discharge of many springs such as Fasayel, Ein Shibly, Bathan, and has even caused some of them to cease flowing seasonally or completely, such as the case of Auja and Farâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a springs. This effect, combined with the natural conditions of prolonged drought, have reduced the discharge of many springs by at least 30 to 50 percent of their long-term average

2. Pollution: Many springs, especially those located within the vicinity of villages and towns, have shown some bacteriological contamination

Settlers swimming in Farah Spring. Photo courtesy of Palestinian Hydrology Group Archive.

resulting mainly from wastewater seepage from cesspits or those affected by wastewater flow from major Palestinian cities (Ein Qiniya, Al-Bathan), and more dangerously, from Israeli colonies in the West Bank (Al-Matwi - Salfeet), which affect the potential of using these springs for domestic or even agricultural purposes and impacts their related ecosystem and its habitat.

discharge, resulting in a serious negative influence on the agricultural areas they irrigate and serious change to the ecosystem and its habitat which also depend on these springs. 4. Confiscation: One of the most dangerous threats is the new trend of Israeli settlers, backed by occupation policy, to confiscate springs and forbid Palestinian access to them. The settlers aim to foster Palestinian disconnect from their natural and

3. Reduced discharge: Drilling 44

cultural heritage in an attempt to try to falsify history by claiming that these springs are part of Israeli heritage. Settlers have taken advantage of the lack of Palestinian presence around some major and even smaller springs and confiscated such springs as Al Qous Spring near the village of Nabi Saleh, which was confiscated and designated for the use of settlers only. Nwiet Al Majur Spring near Qarawa Bani Hassan is yet another historic spring that has been subject to Israeli aggression and confiscation. The main historical pond cave (called Al-Bahar by the residents of Qarawa Bani Hassan) was bombed by the Israeli army back in 2009, which unfortunately has changed the natural character and beauty of the spring and made it available for confiscation by settlers. The most stunning example is the confiscation of Farâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a (Frat) Spring, east of Hizma Village, and the designation of the surrounding area as recreational area for settlers. The access road to the spring was made part of the Anatot settlement and thus cannot be accessed by Palestinians. A gate was installed, and an entry fee of 40 NIS charged from whoever wants to enter the area around the spring, which also prevents the Palestinian farmers and herders in the area from using this water as they used to do.

Initiatives and cleanup campaigns as well as the voluntary work of solidarity groups in tree planting or the rehabilitation of springs are good tools and actions that help preserve the springs. Community commitment and continuous visits to springs are also among these very important practices.

In an attempt to revive the importance of springs as part of Palestinian natural heritage and as part of its significant natural resources and water-supply chain, the Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG) has under taken a number of projects with the support of several donors and local communities represented by village and municipal councils to rehabilitate and protect many springs and introduce some of these springs back into the drinkingwater supply system for the villages. PHG has managed to re-establish the relation between the community and the springs and will continue to do so under its campaign Protecting Your Spring = Protecting your Heritage and Existence. Israel is engaged in a slow but systematic policy of confiscation and control in the West Bank with regard to Palestinian land and natural resources and heritage. From an international law perspective, it is the duty of occupation to secure water for the people under occupation. In other words, supplying water to Palestinian villages is certainly the duty of the occupation authorities, and Palestinians are paying for this supply. The same law also forbids the occupier from using the natural resources of the country it occupies for the benefit of its own citizens. Yet by confiscating natural springs and designating their use to the settlers,

Deir Al-Hatab Spring, which from 1968 to 1998 had been the main source of drinking water for the village named after it, was also confiscated by settlers, and Palestinians were prevented from accessing it. Deir Al-Hatab was able to obtain a court decision that ordered the settlers to evacuate the site and return the land and the spring to its rightful owners, but this decision remains as ink on paper since the settlers still control the area and prevent Palestinian access to it. Wadi Qana springs, Ein Zarqa, and many other springs across the West Bank are under direct threat of confiscation. 45

In Palestine, we have no choice but to protect our water resources, especially our springs, and preserve every single drop of water to be able to cope with the thirsty future that is ahead of us. What is left of the spring of Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja, near its source. Since repairs are being made to the nearby Israeli water pump, there is more flow than usual. Photo by A. Hub.

Israel is violating international law and causing harm to the Palestinian people.

importantly, farmers’ and users’ rights must include wildlife and habitat to be protected and preserved through legal documentation and cases.

On the other hand, Palestinians have unfortunately, although unintentionally, contributed to this loss and to the pollution of some of the springs. They have fallen into the trap of being supplied by an alternative piped water supply system and neglecting their former supply source, allowing untreated or poorly treated effluent from major Palestinian cities to reach some springs and cause serious pollution. Although Israel restricts Palestinian construction of treatment plants, it is not an excuse to pollute our natural heritage and history.

It is important to launch an awareness campaign related to the significance of springs and to link such a campaign with the formal education system and localize it within schools and universities. Alternative and environmental tourism should be promoted, and springs should be in the core of such a program. The Ministry of Tourism and all tourism agencies are to adopt such a program and promote it. Dr. Ayman Rabi, the executive director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group, holds an MSc and a PhD in water resources engineering and has an MBA in business administration. With more than 25 years of water and environment-related experience, he has participated in local, regional, and international EU-funded water and environment-related research, such as Wasamed, Empowers, Melia, Gabardine, Search, Rknow, etc. An author and co-author of more than 30 publications, he is a member of the Engineers Association, the advisory board of the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy, and the national representative for Palestine within the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).

Protecting the springs is the responsibility of all governmental and nongovernmental institutions as well as the community at large. It is important to rehabilitate more springs and make them an indispensible part of the local Palestinian water supply while maintaining their dependent ecosystem and habitat. Clear policies are needed to make spring protection a n d p r e s e r v a t i o n Pa l e s t i n i a n public duties and to prevent their pollution under any circumstance. Governmental and nongovernmental programs should give priority to suppor ting spring protection, development, and integration. More 46

Water in the Village, or Is that No Water in the Village? By Maria C. Khoury

t is almost a miracle when you manage to make beer without a guarantee that you will have running water most days of the week. Since Amnesty International’s 2009 report on water shortage in Palestine, you may be aware of this issue and its effect on local farming. But the issue has far-reaching consequences that affect all kinds of sectors in our local economy. Let me give you an example: a premium high-quality boutique beer consists of 90 percent water that, most of the time, is scarce, especially along the higher elevations on the arid edge of the Jordan Valley. But we live in the Holy Land, so miracles are supposed to happen every day. For beer lovers, at least, it is a miracle to have a German-style beer available since 1994 in a region of the world where 99 percent of the people do not drink alcoholic beverages. Maybe I should drink a lot of the beer my husband produces in order to save him some money on buying drinking water. What would you do if you did not have a drop of water from your faucet and lived next door to the company that produces the first micro-brewed beer in the Middle East? I might be better off than many of my neighbors who have no humanmade alternatives to the colorless translucent liquid treasure that is so scarce in Palestine. Have you ever imagined filling up your bath with natural and pure beer? Sometimes I feel I could go crazy when I cannot have even a drop of water on my toothbrush. At least, they say, beer might be good for my hair. Well, in fact, I am not sure about that. However, I can guarantee you that the yeast left over from making 48

Taybeh sits on one of the highest hills overlooking the Dead Sea. It has 30,000 olive trees that need water. Photo courtesy of the Taybeh Group Photo Archives.

beer is excellent for anyone’s hair. I am just too busy to collect this unique hair conditioner and use it appropriately. But I encourage you to visit our ancient village of Taybeh at any time to hear our story because, when the truth is told, we are just darn crazy.

any running water coming from Ein Samia, our local natural spring that is our main water source. It is Palestinian, of course, but controlled by Israel. Everything in the West Bank – whether roads, borders, air space, or natural resources – everything is controlled by Israel. So if we are lucky, we have running water two days out of an average week. IF we are lucky enough! Due to the ongoing water shortage, it has become normal for Palestinian villages to be last on the list of priority in terms of gaining access to running water. Settlements, of course, are first in priority and receive water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Some days I cannot believe that I gave up life in a cosmopolitan city just to sit in a village waiting for water. The only benefit is that, when I am getting yelled at for leaving dirty dishes in the sink, I get to say, “What part of ‘I don’t have water’ do you not get?” Given these difficulties, who in the world starts to make wine when there isn’t even enough water to make beer? Nadim Khoury, a mechanical genius and my Boston classmate, thinks it will work. I wish he would come up with more creative ways to have water! Pumping the rainwater that is collected in the family well is extremely expensive due to the high cost of electricity; we can only use it for showering, cleaning, and watering our garden. Many families in the area have star ted to collect rainwater, but with global warming we have been getting less and less rain these last few years.

But I am not giving up hope. I spend a lot of time looking at the sun – on the company logo – my husband’s personal symbol of hope that was used with the intention to reflect a bright future for all of Palestine. I hope that in a future free Palestine, natural resources will be distributed fairly to all people and that this will include safe, clean running water. Cheers from Taybeh! Maria C. Khoury earned a doctorate in education from Boston University. She is organizing the 12th Annual Taybeh Oktoberfest, September 24 and 25, 2016.

During the month of July in 2014 and 2015, the village spent 21 days without 49

Palestinian Springs A Water Source at Risk of Extinction

A water spring in a natural rock in Aner area that is threatened by Israeli settlers. It is located 1.5 km south of Der Ammar.

By Abeer Al Butmah

prings in Palestine have remained the single largest water source for domestic consumption for Palestinians in areas not connected to pipelines and are a significant source for irrigation and for watering livestock. The springs’ total discharge from the three West Bank aquifers is around 39 MCM, excluding the discharge of 100 MCM from the Dead Sea springs that are controlled by Israel.

Israeli settlers and soldiers preventing Palestinians from reaching and walking along the ecotouristic route.

West Bank where Israel retains control over security, planning, and building – and on land parcels recorded by the Israeli Civil Administration as privately owned by Palestinians.iii

Palestinians have increasingly lost access to water sources in the West Bank as a result of the control on springs by Israeli settlers, who have used fear, threats, and series of restrictions to ensure control of water sources close to the settlements. According to the UNHRC, “Settlements benefit from enough water to run farms and orchards, and for swimming pools and spas, while Palestinians often struggle to access the minimum water requirements.”i

The restrictions and limitations imposed on Palestinian access to their own water springs and the development of their own resources have exacerbated the already severe water shortages within Palestinian communities, mainly of those that depend on the water springs as their main source of drinking and irrigation water. Many agricultural areas are affected by these settler practices, many farmers were forced either to cease cultivating their land or face a reduction in productivity or pay more costs for water tankers.iv

Israel continues to increase its control over the water sources in the Palestinian territories, thus increasing the suffering of Palestinians year after year. Deep Israeli wells are drying up Palestinian wells and springs. Israel not only uses military force to prevent Palestinians from drilling new wells, it also even demolishes rainwater-har vesting cisterns. ii A survey carried out by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in 2012 identified 56 water springs that are close to Israeli settlements, the majority of them located in Area C – which represents more than 60 percent of the

The restrictions include threats to Palestinian access to their water springs and the building of fences to prevent them from reaching the area. Of the 56 springs near Israeli settlements, 30 are fully under Israeli control, and Palestinians are forbidden from accessing the area. The other 26 springs are threatened by Israeli settlers. They target these springs regularly 53

Israeli marker painted on the rock for the eco-touristic route in the area of Aner.

Israel’s tourism department took over a Palestinian eco-tourism route and is giving it a Hebrew name.

and patrol them in order to prevent Palestinians from using them. Violence and destruction may also come directly from the occupation authorities. “Destruction of water infrastructure, including rainwater cisterns, by Israeli authorities has increased since the beginning of 2010; and doubled in 2012 compared to 2011.”v

control a Palestinian eco-touristic route and seized all its natural components.vi Another dangerous issue is granting Hebrew names to springs to add a symbolic dimension to the process of appropriation. While some of the names are simple transliterations of the original Arabic names (e.g., from Ein Al Dweer to Ein Dvir), in other cases, springs are named after individuals to be commemorated, usually founders of a nearby settlement, victims of Palestinian attacks, or soldiers killed in combat (e.g., from ‘Ein Sijma to ‘Ein Yitzhak).

Israel is developing the tourism infrastructure of Israeli settlements around Palestinian springs. In more than 70 percent of the springs, Israeli settlers have begun to develop the surrounding area into a “tourist attraction.” Along with the elimination or reduction of Palestinian access to the water springs, Israeli settlers have begun to develop touristic areas surrounding the spring – constructing pools and parks with benches and tables, shade structures, and roads between the settlements and the springs. All the development of these tourist sites is being done with the support of the state budget.

Engineer Abeer Al Butmah is the coordinator of the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network – Friends of Earth Palestine (PENGON). She obtained her BA and master’s degree from Birzeit University, specializing in water and environmental engineering. With experience in this field since 2006, she has participated in local and international conferences and in studies related to water and environmental research. She is currently a member of local and international environmental and water campaigns organized by Friends of Earth International. Article photos courtesy of the author.

In addition, Israeli settlers seize natural eco-touristic routes from Palestinians, such as in the case of Deir Ammar, where Israeli settlers have begun to

UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) report on the implications of Israeli settlements and their “creeping annexation” on Palestinian rights, January 31, 2013. Available at http://www.map-uk.org/news/archive/ post/32-israeli-settlements-blasted-in-un-report. ii Life Source, Water in Palestine, “Violations of the human right to water in Palestine,” available at http://www. lifesource.ps/english/water-in-palestine/. iii UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory, “The Humanitarian Impact of the Takeover of Palestinian Water Springs by Israeli Settlers,” March 2012, available at https://www. ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_springs_factSheet_march_2012_english.pdf. vi For information on the cost of tankered water see water, sanitation and hygiene at OCHA›s «Vulnerability Profile of Palestinian Communities in Area C», available at http://data.ochaopt.org/vpp.aspx. i

Ayman Raby, “Water Apartheid: A crime against humanity?” Ecologist, March 22, 2014, available at http://www. theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2329259/water_apartheid_in_palestine_a_crime_against_humanity.html. v i As documented by people’s testimonies through PENGON and staff visits of EQA. v

The Establishment of the Water Sector Regulatory Council

By Mohammad Said Al Hmaidi

he water sector in Palestine faces many challenges, among them insufficient water availability, consumer orientation, lack of transparency and accountability, underinvestment in maintenance and infrastructure, and lack of cooperation between key stakeholders. These challenges have long been fully acknowledged by water-sector specialists, donors, and key stakeholders in the sector. Thus in 2009, the Action Plan for Reform was endorsed as a first step, while The 2014 Water Law â&#x20AC;&#x201C; New Institutional Setup Water-Sector Reform Palestinian Water Authority - Water-sector policy, strategy, and master planning - Sector development and restructuring - Water resources licensing and monitoring

Water Sector Regulatory Council - Licensing of service providers - Monitoring serviceprovider performance - Tariff approval

National Water Company (Bulk water supply) Service Delivery Regional water utilities, joint water services, water-user associations

Institutional Water Sector Review of 2011 and the New Water Law of 2014 constitute the subsequent milestones in the reform process that led to the establishment of the Water Sector Regulatory Council (WSRC) in 2014. The following chart outlines the various stakeholders and their respective duties.

that is due to unpaid bulk water bills; it will help to stop subsidies for utilities once cost recovery has been achieved, increase information on the situation in the sector, support the implementation of the governmental policies, and contribute to environmental safety. The key stakeholders within the water sector are the customers who should be provided with better services.

There are a number of added values associated with a regulatory council. Worldwide experience has shown that regulation increases the overall per formance of a sector and the self-financing of utilities, makes the sector more transparent, stabilizes its development, increases the prominence and visibility of the sector, and strengthens national ownership. International experience has further shown that a regulator is especially needed for the water sector because the consumer doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a choice among various providers but is rather dependent on one provider. This lack of alternative choices and competition might lead to higher prices and in extreme cases cause a lack of proper water supply or of well-functioning wastewater services. A regulator aims to assess the services and prices for the consumer while taking into account investments and cost recovery for the water-service providers, thus balancing the needs of the consumer with the needs of the water-service providers. In addition, the regulator helps to implement public policies and to create transparency, accountability, and sustainability of water-service provision.

Service providers (SPs) should feel the impact of the council in terms of being able to achieve full cost recovery and improve their sustainability; compatibility with PWA policies and readiness for amalgamation with other institutions should be facilitated, and customer satisfaction should be realized. Regulation recognizes good performance through a benchmarking system; it supports fund mobilization, provides orientation to boards of directors and management for better decision making (e.g., cost recovery, risk management), and gives arguments to protect management from external interference. Donors working within the sector will find within the council a central, reliable, accessible, and updated database for service providers, more accurate and reliable cost and financial repor ts, and a needs-based future capacitybuilding and training program. With this, regulation leads to a higher credibility of the sector and the individual water utilities, enables a better overview of the sector for improved decision-making on funding, and supports sustainability of the sector. At a national level, the council intends to minimize the drain of public money to Israeli authorities. It will work with other institutions on a gradual settling of SP debts to the PA ($1.3 billion) and aim to make the SPs self-sufficient. The regulator shall be driven by the principle of balancing prices with level of services while keeping transparency and good governance as a guiding tool. A reduction of non-revenue water

In Palestine then, the added values of the council cover the entire water sector: the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), donors, and service providers, as well as customers. An integrated management approach to water resources is to be emphasized and will lead to the better realization of sustainable financial strategies for the water sector. Regulation should stop the drain on the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget 57

(that is, water that has been â&#x20AC;&#x153;lostâ&#x20AC;? before it reaches the customer; losses can be physical/real, such as through leakage, or apparent, such as through theft or faulty meters) should increase the availability of water and aim to satisfy basic customer health and social needs, thus improving the quality of life of the entire public. The regulatory council shall increase continuity of service, ensure fair water prices, ensure safe water quality, increase good management of consumer complaints, increase the functioning of the wastewater system, support efforts that lead to a cleaner environment, and provide more detailed and reliable information regarding all aspects of the sector. A number of intermediate steps led to the institution of the regulatory council in Palestine. In December 2009, the cabinet of ministers of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) endorsed the Action Plan for Reform to define and implement a comprehensive program of institutional and legislative reform in the Palestinian water sector. The overall framework of the reform process envisioned a new distribution of responsibilities and authorities and aimed to split policy from the regulatory functions, which previously (and since its establishment in 1996) had been carried out by the PWA. It envisioned the establishment of a Water Sector Regulatory Council as an entity that is independent from the PWA, included directives to transform the West Bank Water Department (WBWD) into a National Water Company to be owned by the State of Palestine, and finally gave the PWA the mandate for the establishment of the Regional Water Utilities and the Water User Associations. In 2011, the Institutional Water Sector Review (IWSR) formulated the following needs for the sector.

In June 2014, the new water law was passed that incorporated solutions for the issues raised in the 2011 IWSR. The water law outlines the core functions of WSRC as follows:

Photo by Shareef Sarhan.

According to points 5 and 7 above, the water law issued the establishment of a WSRC. The cabinet of ministers recommended the institution of a board of directors made up of a chairperson and six members for oversight of the WSRC, and in August 2014, the president issued the decision that formed the seven-member board of directors, two of them to represent the public sector and the remaining five to represent experts and the private sector.

implementation approach that included detailed implementation activities, the required amounts of donor support, and a work plan for the first year. According to these plans, the council is to ensure water- and wastewater-service quality and efficiency to consumers in Palestine at affordable prices; it will monitor operational, per formance-related activities of water- and wastewaterservice providers that include water production, transportation, distribution, and consumption. It furthermore covers wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal, as well as reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation. The internal bylaws and a number of technical procedures, guidelines, and modules that include water-tariff-adjustments modules, water-balance modules, and cost calculations were submitted to the cabinet of ministers for approval. A legal review of the water law that includes a comparison of the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate with other legal tools and financial procedures has been completed.

The establishment of the WSRC theoretically achieved a separation of responsibilities within the sector. A road map for its establishment and operation was prepared by its board of directors in October 2014 and comprised a description of the overall

However, before the WSRC can claim full readiness for water and wastewater monitoring, there remain a number of other tools that are still to be completed. This includes the establishment of a baseline-data and situational report on the operational processes of water and wastewater services that covers 58

production, treatment, transportation, and distribution. At the same time, a situational report on the tariff structures and procedures adopted by service providers is to be documented and analyzed. Challenges that may delay the implementation of the mandated tasks include the following points.

With the endorsement of the 2014 Palestinian Water Law and the corresponding establishment of the WSRC, a new water culture is desirable to deal with the numerous challenges the sector faces today; the demand for water services continues to increase, still controlled by the Israeli restrictions, and is driven by the growing population, urbanization. Thus, water resources are exhaustible. To improve access, we have to start by recognizing these challenges. It is true that water is a gift from God, but making it available requires collective efforts. Thus, it cannot be free.

Mohammad Said Al Hmaidi is a policy and strategic water and environmental specialist with broad professional experience in Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, where he has been engaged in institutional building, waste management, infrastructure, food security, emergency response, employment generation, vocational training, and environmental improvement programs. A graduate of the University of Loughborough, United Kingdom, he is a key founder of a number of environmental institutions in Palestine that include the community health unit of Birzeit University, the environmental planning directorate within the Ministry of Planning, the Environmental Authority, Palestine Solar and Sustainable Energy society, CHF International in Palestine, the Palestine Recycling Company, and recently, the Water Sector Regulatory Council. Mr. Hmaidi has published and presented various papers at international conferences, represented Palestine in international-related functions, and prepared institutional bylaws, manuals, policy papers, and procedures.

Efforts are under way to address these challenges, and it is hoped that the regulatory council will be functioning and operational by the fall of 2016. Its tasks for implementation and long-term operation have been clearly established.

I Stood at the Lowest Point on Earth By Jamil Dababat

have visited the Dead Sea many times, and each time I have stood at the same place and observed that the water is receding. The Dead Sea is shrinking. This body of water has been “dead” for thousands of years. It acquired its name from its high salt concentration; with a concentration that is ten times higher than in seas and oceans, nothing is able to survive

in it. And there will come the day when the salty expanse of water will literally die and disappear from the face of the earth. But on a calm summer day, the sea waves are gently hitting the saltcoated stones on the shore.

The sun hovers above the horizon, the sea appears like a huge plate covered with water vapor, and tourists climb down wooden steps to get into the water – but none of them realizes that many years ago these steps were submerged in the sea water.

The legendary tale of the Great Rift, with earth plates receding from one another and thus causing the low elevation of this part of our planet, will likely one day come to an end. This has not been officially verified by experts nor can it be imagined by tourists. Anyone who sees the shiny surface of the water would hardly believe that this unique expanse of water could vanish. I have often stood on the seashore, closed my eyes, and visualized the sea that is as old as history. I can hardly take in the idea that it will dry up one day. The disappearance of the Dead Sea would be a disaster, a nightmare come true.

The sea is mentioned in the historic and holy books on Palestine and the Levant, and it appears on maps of the Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab Islamic eras. In the Old Testament, the Dead Sea was mentioned as the Salt Sea or the Valley of Sidim (Genesis 14:3). Sources mention that the Nabateans, who arrived in Palestine from the Arab Peninsula around 500 BC, extracted bitumen and tar from the Dead Sea water and exported it to Egypt, where it was used in mummification.

It is indeed exciting to stand at the lowest point on earth and let yourself be absorbed into one of the most significant natural phenomena in the world. Since the beginning of history, the Dead Sea has witnessed and lived through the various civilizations and cultures that have prevailed in the area.

Standing at the lowest par t of the world and remembering its rich history

Photo by Ayman Noubani.

The areas west of Jericho, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea were once rich resources of water that provided for the inhabitants in these areas and fed into the Dead Sea. Water came from Wadi Daraja and Wadi Teqoa near Bethlehem, Wadi Qadrun in Jerusalem, and Wadi Qilt, Al-Auja, Fasayel, and Samya springs near Jericho. However, in spite of seasonal floods that still occur in these areas, water has generally become rare. The Israeli authorities have taken control over the water sources and built settlements and military establishments that use the same water resources. Not much water is left for Palestinian use, and the water resources are in danger of drying up. (Courtesy of Palestinian Wildlife Society, PWLS.) Wadi Qelt. Photo by Imad Atrash.

makes you wonder: Is it possible that the Dead Sea will die? Figures issued by experts and international organizations concerned about water activity in the Dead Sea indicate that, indeed, this is a possibility. Its eastern shore is expanding. The Dead Sea water has receded toward the east and the emerging shore has formed a layer of salty residue. Any laborer who works in an Israeli sea resort can notice that the water has been receding year after year. Standing on the calcified muddy shore, a laborer in a sea resort told me that the water has receded since last year. “The water was up there,” he said, pointing to a slightly elevated land.

from Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, the three riparian countries that share the beach of the Dead Sea; NASA has recently issued warnings concerning the loss of the Dead Sea, and politicians and decision makers in the State of Palestine are becoming increasingly pessimistic. But no measures have been taken to reverse the trend, and the Dead Sea is continually shrinking. The seashore that stretches over a few kilometers became desolate after the Israeli authorities surrounded it with barbed wire from the western side. Since 1967, Israel has maintained control over the western shore. We Palestinians are denied access, and the Oslo Accords have failed to safeguard Palestinian rights to the Dead Sea. But Israelis are allowed access to the shore through a meandering dirt path. Jewish sunbathers cover their bodies with mud, and the sun shoots its arrows at

Fear of the loss of the Dead Sea is not limited to local authorities; it has rather become an international concern. Journalists from all over the world have written about this phenomenon; the issue has been highlighted by politicians 64

the lowest part of the earth, causing it to shine like crystals made of unique and rare chemical elements. The joy on the faces of Jewish sunbathers contradicts the contor tion on the faces of Palestinian decision makers. Palestinians are denied access to the Dead Sea and cannot make any use of it because Israeli authorities forbid any Palestinian activity in the vicinity of the Dead Sea, even though, according to the governor of Jericho, the Oslo Accords granted Palestinians control over 182 km2 of the Dead Sea. (Its surface was 660 km2 in 1997, but in 2014, it was reduced to 600 km2.)

on the Bahrain Canal – a pipeline that is to connect the Red Sea with the Dead Sea, transporting both brackish and fresh water in two different channels – Israel tried to keep the Palestinians out of any discussion even though, according to international law, Palestine is a riparian country.i Environmentalists and economists worldwide are waging war against the pipeline that is planned to bring 2 billion m3 of water to the area, half of it for desalination and the other half with brackish water to be added to the Dead Sea. Even the study undertaken by the World Bank has been criticized. Objections to the canal range from economic to environmental to indicate that the Dead Sea would dry up at an even faster rate if the canal were built, due to the build-up of gypsum that would result from mixing the sulfaterich waters of the Red Sea with the

The permanent loss of the Dead Sea is possible. According to expert Imad alAtrash, the ratio of incoming to outgoing water is 1 to 3. The Dead Sea has become a main issue for discussion among the three beachfront countries. When the World Bank launched studies 65

Wadi Qelt. Photo by Imad Atrash.

calcium-rich water of the Dead Sea.ii In this case, the Dead Sea may turn white and algae may appear. In all cases, the characteristics of the Dead Sea water will change. The cost is also staggering: numbers cited range to as much as US$ 4 billion that would have to be raised to complete the project, while the annual running-cost estimates run from US$ 400 million at this time to US$ 660 million by 2060. And a planned hydropower plant would not cover the energy needed for desalination or transport of the waters up the Jordan Valley, and the resulting drinking water would be too expensive for the local population to afford.iii

During the day, voices of tourists echo in the air, but at night complete silence prevails. The Dead Sea area is restricted at this time. Along the southern road from Jericho to the Dead Sea, the road on which Palestinians are allowed to drive, one can see no sign of Palestinian existence. The collapsed margins of the hills reveal the receding spaces of the sea. Instead, along the seashore there are Israeli plants for the extraction of salt from the Dead Sea for cosmetics and other uses. Israeli manufacturing and exploitation of the Dead Sea water contribute to the recession of the sea. The salt craters that appear on the seashore testify to its water loss. 66

Jamil Dababat, a Palestinian journalist and writer, lives in Tubas in the northern West Bank, and has worked with the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) for the past 15 years. He has covered stories in Palestine, North America, Africa, and Europe regarding Palestinian and international affairs. Jamil has won several national and international awards, and specializes in covering political, environmental, minority, and religious affairs.

Every time I visit the Dead Sea I ask myself: Will the sea die or continue to live? One day I stood on top of a hill overlooking the Dead Sea. I watched the sunrise reflecting upon the surface of the sea, and I said to myself, “As long as the light sparkles on the surface, the sea will live.”

Sharon Udasin, “Israel, Jordan advance $800 million, Red-Dead Canal, water swapping project,” The Jerusalem Post, January 1, 2015, available at http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Israel-Jordanadvance-800m-Red-Dead-canal-water-swapping-project-435984.

Greta Link, “Red Sea – Dead Sea Canal and the Feasibility Study of the World Bank,” Global Nature Fund, December 2013, available at https://www.globalnature.org/bausteine.net/f/8005/RedSea-DeadSeaCanaland FeasibilityStudyoftheWorldBank.pdf?fd=2.

iii

Ibid.

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

Shaddad Attili on water issues, supported by a UNDP fellowship. In time, he became a senior policy adviser on environment and water at the negotiations support unit where he led the drafting of a strategy for the negotiation of natural resources until 2008. In April 2008, Dr. Attili was appointed chairman of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA). At that time, many Palestinians and members of the international community were excessively influenced by Israeli narratives about the water situation. Israeli communications often reflected the relationship between the two sides as an example of positive cooperation, albeit simultaneously claiming that the Palestinian water problem was a product of Palestinian mismanagement. The Israeli narrative was so effective that many internationals, as well as uninformed Palestinians, would often believe that the failures in water and sanitation-services provision simply required technical solutions and more projects. The new chairman understood that water – like all other permanentstatus issues highlighted in the Oslo Agreement – could only be addressed through political solutions. He was fully aware of the fact that day-to-day Palestinian efforts in the field of water supply were completely limited by the predominant constraint posed by a lack of access to water resources, such as the aquifers in the West Bank and the Jordan River, where utilization was still prohibited under Israeli military orders, in contravention to international law. British academic Dr. Jan Selby described the Israeli-Palestinian water conflict as “domination dressed up as cooperation.”

In the midst of the disappointing lack of vision in Palestine today, Dr. Shaddad Attili represents a ray of hope. A geologist by training, Dr. Attili is an internationally regarded activist and exper t on the issue of water rights. He holds a master’s degree in industrial geology from Al Yarmouk University (Jordan) and a doctorate in science and industrial technology from Orléans University (France), where his dissertation focused on the impact of heavy-metal waste on water resources. Born and raised outside the occupied Palestinian territories, Dr. Attili was determined that his professional career should benefit Palestine. He served between 1993 and 1995 as a policy adviser on environmental and water issues within the PLO’s economic department in Tunisia. In 1999, immediately after receiving his doctorate, he came to Palestine, only his second trip to his country of origin, to work with the PLO’s Negotiations Affairs Department on the development of a negotiation strategy 68

Recognizing that overcoming the inherent power disparity would require strong international political and donor support, Dr. Attili directed the PWA to undertake a communications campaign to challenge the pervasive Israeli narrative on water and simultaneously set out a reform agenda to increase the overall effectiveness of the water sector within the political constraints. Dr. Attili asked the World Bank to expand the scope of its movement and access report series with the goal of publishing an analysis on the Palestinian water sector. In April 2009, the World Bank issued the landmark “Assessment of Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Development,” which succeeded in reframing the Israeli-Palestinian water narrative for the international community. Although the government of Israel vehemently contested the World Bank report (as well as the subsequent unprecedented number of reports on water and development in Palestine issued by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, UNEP, Al Haq, etc., all encouraged by the PWA), the months immediately following this publication witnessed the Israeli civil administration’s approval of long-stalled permits for several dozen water projects for the West Bank. The reports published by the World Bank, Amnesty International, and other bodies created not only impor tant reference documents that evidenced Israeli domination, they also provided a momentum that enabled the PWA to enhance its mobilization of the international and donor communities to support activities and projects in the Palestinian water sector. Dr. Attili had re-oriented the PWA towards being an active advocate of Palestinian water rights, linking them with human rights and the right to development in the context of the ongoing occupation. He proceeded with the clear goal of leveraging international awareness in order to develop the Palestinian water sector and attempt to compel changes in the coercive policies and

demoralizing water practices of the government of Israel. In parallel, Dr. Attili was the driving force behind a national program of reform of the water sector endorsed by the council of ministers and supported by the international community. In 2012, ten donors co-signed with the prime minister a memorandum of understanding on the reform of the water sector that outlined an institutional reorganization with the establishment of several new institutions. The aim of the reform was to make the overall sector more effective in the provision of water and sanitation services by transferring important functions and responsibilities held by the dominant, and traditionally over-centralized, PWA to these new institutions. The reform aimed to devolve the powers of the PWA and its chairman, yet strengthen PWA’s core mandate of strategy and planning, and maintain its key role of interfacing with the government of Israel and the international community. The result is a new water law, issued in 2014, that mandates the establishment of several critical institutions to assume the management of water resources and of water and sanitation-service provision, which include the Water Sector Regulatory Council as an independent regulator and the yet-to-be-established National Water Company. Dr. Attili is known for his candid manner of speaking and human approach in undertaking the lead role in the water sector. He often visited West Bank villages on weekends and held town discussions on the water situation. When the PWA was informed of a quality-control issue in the water supplied by Israel, Dr. Attili not only mobilized Palestinian water technicians to verify and resolve the issue with Israeli counterparts, but he also drove to each village to sample the water publicly and reassure the community of its safety. Yet as the role of a Palestinian minister often involves dealing with harsh criticism for failure to provide 69

water and sanitation under occupation, Dr. Attili – in conversations with farmers from the Jordan Valley – has admitted that the PWA failed to fulfill promises of increased water supply to many in the Jordan Valley who were greatly dependent on water for their livelihoods. Even though Dr. Attili was never allowed to visit the Gaza Strip during his tenure, he would always highlight the dire water crisis that impacted the entire Gaza Strip and call for international action to lift the siege.

projects be linked to corresponding Palestinian approval of water projects in Israeli settlements which are illegal under international law. This important instruction was in fact a 2010 decision of the Prime Minister and his cabinet. Following more than five years of implementing a progressive agenda for the water sector, the office of the president appointed Dr. Attili to take on the post of Deputy Secretary General of Environment and Water at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), whose 43 member states had endorsed a largescale desalination facility for Gaza as the regional organization’s flagship project. When Dr. Attili arrived at the UfM headquarters in early November 2013, Palestine was enduring a harsh drought during the traditionally heavy winter rainy season. As a result of this, the then newly-appointed Palestinian prime minister recalled him to again lead the PWA. Thus forgoing a prestigious opportunity to embark on an international career, Dr. Attili returned from Barcelona in early 2014 to resume his post at PWA. As is the way of politics, Dr. Attili was dismissed over subsequent discord with the prime minister’s office only six months later.

In 2010, under Dr. Attili’s direction, an initiative with a special focus on Gaza was launched that aimed to include all water-sector stakeholders in the analysis and development of solutions to address the ongoing water crisis in the Gaza Strip. In front of the international community, Dr. Attili was outspoken about the harsh water realities in Gaza, where more than 95 percent of the available water supply does not meet World Health Organization standards, and evidence reflects ever-increasing incidences of water-related illness. His initiative has resulted in a consensus-based sustainable water-supply program with the strategy to coordinate nine interrelated interventions (ranging from a health monitoring program to the development of large-scale desalination infrastructure projects) that since 2011 has been utilized to mobilize the political, financial, and technical support of the international community.

Dr. Attili has persistently been in the forefront in mobilizing the international community and donors to support a progressive reform of the sector, provide increased financial support to water and wastewater infrastructure, urge the international community to respond to pressing development needs, and address the Israeli limitations placed on Palestinian access to natural freshwater sources. “Unlike other ministries of water in the world, we do not manage water resources. Rather, we manage a crisis – as long as the occupation remains,” he is quoted as saying.

As testimony to his strong advocacy for Palestinian empowerment, Dr. Attili has been vilified by Israel officials as a sensationalist, as well as an obstructionist of the two parties’ history of “cooperation.” Ironically, he is most notably attacked for the government’s decision to limit the scope of Palestinian participation in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee (JWC); a platform now infamous as a result of the World Bank and Amnesty International reports about the Israeli demands that the approval of Palestinian water and sanitation

For d is t ing uis hed ser vi ce an d accomplishments, French President Francois Hollande awarded Dr. Attili the Légion d’Honneur, considered the highest decoration presented by the Government of France. 70

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Time & Remains – of Palestine Photographs by James Morris Introduction by Raja Shehadeh 192 pages (95 color illustrations), 30 x 24 cm Kehrer Verlag, 2016, € 39.90

Footfalls echo in the memory Down the passage which we did not take Towards the door we never opened Into the rose-garden. My words echo,

With this extract from T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, Raja Shehadeh begins his introduction to an outstanding collection of photographs by James Morris in which he explores the remains of the Palestinian homeland and juxtaposes images of the fabric of conflict in the built landscape of the contemporary West Bank. The work originated from a walk through a forest in Israel where the photographer came across the unexplained crumbling walls of seemingly ancient structures that an official plaque declared as “an oasis, a recreation area, a place of water, of hope, of peace, of vision.” Morris’ inspiration for the book stemmed from the stark discord between this declaration and a film he saw online in which elderly Israeli Palestinian citizens recalled how as children they had lived in this area, remembering their village that now lies in ruins – its homes, terraces, fields, and water spring. These men had been expelled during the Nakba of 1948, their village flattened, their right of return refused; a forest had been planted, and its imported pines were slowly obscuring the world of the inhabitants of this village, “cleansing” the traces of their former presence. Raja Shehadeh – whose family was forced out of Jaffa in the weeks leading up to the Nakba, at which time the cultural and commercial bridge to the sea with a history of over 5,000 years was reduced from 80,000 to 3,665 inhabitants – relates that Ben Gurion, in the newly formed state, assembled

archeologists, historians, geographers, and car tographers to rename the country. “Just as we do not recognize the Arab’s political proprietorship of the land, so we also do not recognize their spiritual proprietorship and their names.” Par t II is entitled “When the Time Comes,” in reference to a statement issued after the massacre in Deir Yassin perpetrated by the Irgun and Stern, the Jewish forces that fought in 1948: “We will maintain the graves and remaining property and return it to the owners when the time comes.” As a number of photographs show, some graves have been left standing. Yet as Shehadeh comments, the return of property has yet to happen. Morris documents the fabric of conflict and occupation in the contemporary West Bank that has been zoned into areas A, B, and C, fenced in and divided by concrete walls, checkpoints, and roadblocks, and increasingly diminished by expanding settlements. His images document the contemporary landscape of the resulting labyrinth and consider the possibilities of a would-be “Palestine,” witnessing the parallel worlds of par ted peoples. In contemplating the enduring notion of “Palestine,” the book seeks not just to chronicle history, architecture, and landscape but also to comprehend, in part, that which evolved and reverberates still. The images, being largely void of their inhabitants, add to the haunting impression they leave with the observer.

Thus, in your mind.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Yazan Ghareeb layers of different shades of brown. My first coffee painting turned out to be to a marvelous work.” Palestinian ar tist Yazan Ghareeb, originally a refugee from Jerusalem, currently lives in Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem. He began drawing at the age of eight, taking his inspiration from his surroundings – animals, fruits, flower vases, etc. Later on, he joined Khaima Cultural Center in the refugee camp and followed the guidance of his schoolteacher at UNRWA’s Dheisheh primary school.

“In Syria in 2006, I was waiting for my parents to call and tell me that the money transfer was completed, so that I would be able to buy the colors I needed to finalize my painting of the great dramatist William Shakespeare’s King Lear. I was frustrated and angry, smoking shisha and drinking my cup of coffee. While I was waiting, my cup of coffee spilled over the sketch I had worked on overnight, making my hard day complete. So I decided to take a break from waiting and go for a walk. When I returned, I found that the coffee had dried, and I loved the brown color on my sketch. So I started putting more coffee onto my brush to create more

His parents believed in his talent but continued to emphasize the importance of Yazan’s studies that would lead him to a traditional profession. Nevertheless they encouraged him to participate in the first exhibition that was organized by his school in cooperation with Hebron Polytechnic University when he was 14 years old. Yazan continued to draw and participated in several exhibitions in high school. He was especially distinguished at drawing faces and natural landscapes.

and theater through the design and painting of theatrical scenery. He completed his bachelor’s degree in scenography at the Higher Institution for Arts and Music in Damascus. Back in Palestine, Yazan began to participate in international and national exhibitions. The most striking feature of his art is how he uses raw and simple materials. He draws murals, portraits of well-known personalities such as the late president of Palestine, Yasser Arafat, Ghassan Kanafani, Mahmoud Darwish, and others, in addition to scenes from nature and from his immediate surroundings. In some instances, he uses unusual tools such as toothpicks instead of a paintbrushes. In addition to his creative work, Yazan teaches drawing and painting in various schools and centers in Palestine, to share his experience and talent with children and adults, hoping to provide them with opportunities he did not have when he was young. Yazan most recently participated in the exhibition Nakhet al-Rooh (Flavor of the Spirit) in the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Bethlehem in April 2016. His exhibition included 17 paintings of subjects taken from the ancient history and heritage of Palestine and of other countries that he considers sisters to Palestine, such as Russia. The works were painted on paper or poster board using his nontraditional medium of Arabic coffee. At present Yazan is preparing 30 paintings for his second exhibition of coffee works that will be held during the First Festival of Cultural Tourism in Bethlehem in September 2016. Yazan’s work is not limited to painting; he is also involved in acting and theatrical directing, and has played a distinguished role in Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian, French, and Swedish ar tistic productions.

After finishing high school, Yazan decided to develop his talent and continue his studies by combining art

WHERE TO GO? Wadi Makhrour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Just Before Sunset Courtesy of VisitPalestine.ps abundance of the place is owed to the underground natural springs and also to the hard work of the landowners. Some parts of the valley are home to natural forests with remarkable tree species such as Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos). The pine trees heated by the sun will delight your senses. An evening stroll will allow you to observe the colorful variety of birds that live or pass through the area as they search for an evening meal before they sleep.

Wadi Makhrour, a valley situated west of Bethlehem that stretches between Battir Village and Beit Jala, is best enjoyed during the late afternoon hours in the summertime when the sun is about to set. Start your walk in Battir Village and follow the marked trail to enter the valley. Battir can be reached from Bethlehem with a shared taxi (orange van) that can be taken at the bus station in the Madbaseh area for around five shekels. Wadi Makhrour encompasses both natural and agricultural landscapes and is well known for its ancient terraces and stone towers called qusur, built of neatly placed rocks that used to serve as storage rooms for various crops planted in the wadi. At the entrance to the valley you can see an old Ottoman oven that was used to burn limestone for building. The heat treatment of the stone resulted in turning it into a fine powder that when mixed with water was used to seal the spaces between stones. Along the way, you will also encounter ancient Roman tombs hewn in the wadiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grey-brown rocks. One of the most spectacular tombs was dug in a great rock that evidently was chipped off the nearby cliff and rolled down to the valley.

Near the end of the trail, just before you enter Beit Jala, there are three restaurants that serve local refreshments and dishes: cold fresh lemonade with mint, freshly made seasonal juices, hummus and bread made on the spot, or delicious zarb or barbecue. There you can enjoy an evening meal while taking in the marvelous sunset behind the meandering hills that surround the valley. The colors of the sky will gradually change from orange and red to dark blue, and the green hills will become covered with grey. The warm summer night can be further enjoyed next to the bonfire of one of the eateries. If you are interested in booking a guided informative tour of Battir and Wadi Makhrour, contact Visit Palestine Information Center in Bethlehem at info@visitpalestine.ps or call (02) 2771992. Find out about other interesting destinations at www.visitpalestine.ps.

While following the trail farther down, you will find yourself surrounded by hills replete with agricultural terraces full of olive, apricot, and fig trees. The

18:00 Looting of Paradise (in Arabic) is a play by Al-Hara Theatre in cooperation with ASHTAR Theatre that asks the audience to return to the earth and man’s early understanding of the sacred in ancient Mesopotamia. “Come back to Ishtar, you are from Ishtar, and you will remain.” Al-Hara Theatre Studios, Beit Jala

EAST JERUSALEM BOOK LAUNCHES Saturday 23 18:00 Israel and South Africa: book launch by Educational Bookshop, featuring Ilan Pappe and his book, Israel and South Africa: the Many Faces of Apartheid. Garden of the French Institute, 23 Salaheddin Street Wednesday 27 18:30 The Rabbi’s Knight: book launch featuring Michael J. Cooper, organized by the Bookshop at the American Colony. The Pasha Room – American Colony Hotel

RAMALLAH and EL-BIREH

CONCERTS Friday 8 18:30 – 22:30 Open MIC Night is an evening of jamming, music, and singing. All genres and levels of the creative, talented, and artistic community are welcome: poetry, beatbox, rap, oud, voice, guitar, spoken word, performance, dance, and more! Al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, Old City

CHILDREN’S EVENTS Saturday 9 18:00 Fozi, Mozi Tutti and Mandalina is a performance for children and the whole family. Dar Al-Tifel Al-Arabi School

EXHIBITIONS Friday 1 – Friday 15 20:30 Family Album exhibition presenting Palestinian por traits photographed by Bruno Fert. Al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art

SPECIAL EVENTS

BIRZEIT

Tuesday 12 and 13 18:00 The 5 th Annual Palestinian Diaspora Conference, organized by the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation and Know Thy Heritage, aims to bring together Palestinians from all over the world to learn about how they can become actively involved in fostering a robust and flourishing Palestinian nation. The Grand Park Hotel To register, please visit https://kthps.org/diasporapalestinian-annual conference/. Monday 25 17:00 Palestinian National Costume Day is an event organized by a group of youth to preserve the Palestinian traditional costume as a symbol of identity and existence. A parade will head from the Ramallah Municipality to Baladna Cultural Center in Al Bireh. Monday 25 to Monday, August 15 Empowering Storytellers is an intense filmproduction camp for documentary directors, producers, and editors from Denmark and Palestine, organized by Aarhus Film Workshop and FilmLab: Palestine, presented in collaboration with The Danish House in Palestine, and supported by Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke – The DEMENA youth pool.

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

BETHLEHEM

EXHIBITIONS

SPECIAL EVENTS

June 28 to Thursday 14 21:00 to 23:00 “The Mystical Journey” features works by Palestinian artist Saleh Abu Shindi who lives in Jordan and specializes in oil painting and printmaking. Gallery One

July 25 17:00 Palestinian National Costume Day is an event organized by a group of youth in cooperation with the Palestinian Heritage Center to preserve the Palestinian traditional costume as a symbol of identity and existence. Manger Square

Saturday 16 20:00 A Walk Through Our Existences (in French and English) is a Belgian play and part of the ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival 2016 that focuses on playing, pleasure, individuality, and life in society. ASHTAR Theatre Tuesday 19 20:00 Through a Different Lens (in Arabic) is the closing ceremony of ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival 2016 and presents the results of the workshops held. Ottoman Court, Ramallah Municipality

JENIN THEATER Wednesday 13 17:30 Return to Palestine (in Arabic) presents stories from Jenin Refugee Camp and city, Fasayel Village, Dheisheh Refugee Camp, Mufaqara and Gaza, that were gathered by Freedom Theater through playback theater with the communities engaged in The Freedom Ride. The Freedom Theater Wednesday 13 17:30 Running Time (in English) is a play based on a real-life story of an average Greek student and the problems she faces in her life. Part of ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival 2016. The Freedom Theater

Wednesday 13 19:00 Ifrah o Imrah band with Manal Shawahneh present a performance for children organized by the Rozana Association within the Birzeit 8th Heritage Week. Old City

INTERNATIONAL July 10–17 Water Retention Landscape Healing Workshop for Palestinians presents techniques and measures that are based on the experiences and philosophy of the specialist in water retention landscape, Bernd Walter Müller, who states, “Water, energy, and food will be freely provided to the whole of humanity if we learn to cooperate with nature.” Tamera Research Center, South Portugal.

SPECIAL EVENTS Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 The Birzeit 8th Heritage Week is organized by the Rozana Association to promote the Palestinian culture and civilization. Old City

EXHIBITIONS Monday 18 to Monday, August 8 14:00 “El Che, endless reader” exhibition opening, organized by Birzeit University Museum. Open Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 14:00. Daraj Gallery, Faculty of Education

THEATER Monday 11 20:00 The Clown (in Arabic) is a play by ASHTAR Theatre that tackles the issue of corruption and the fact that corrupt people exist in every place and era; it deals with the loss of Palestine and the selling of the land to enemies. Ottoman Court, Ramallah Municipality Thursday 14 20:00 Gaza Monologues (in Arabic); three different additions to The Gaza Monologues by three different directors featuring stories that were written by ASHTAR Theatre students in Gaza after the 2008–2009 Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. ASHTAR Theatre

THEATER Friday 15 18:00 Out of the Box? A show by Diyar Dance Theatre highlights the problems that youth face with their parents and the community, challenging reality and the “boxes” that their dreams are placed in, and trying to build the future that they desire. Dar Annadwa Friday 15 18:00 The Guaranteed Way to Remove Stains (in Arabic) is Al-Hara Theatre’s play about stains on clothes, furniture, the floor – are there stains anywhere else? And do we feel them? Al-Hara Theatre Studios, Beit Jala

Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular Heritage

Jericho Culture & Art Center

Palestinian Heritage Center

Tel: 232 2417, Fax: 232 2604

Telefax: 232 1047

Telefax: 274 7945

Municipality Theatre

Telefax: 274 2381, 274 2642 mahasaca@palestinianheritagecenter.com www.phc.ps

JENIN (04) Cinema Jenin

Russian Center for Science and Culture

EAST JERUSALEM (02)

The Bookshop at the American Colony Hotel

ARTLAB

Tel: 627 9731, Fax: 627 9779 bookshop.americancolony@gmail.com www. americancolony.com

Al-Jawal Theatre Group

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music

Mob. 0544 343 798, artlabjerusalem@gmail.com Telefax: 628 0655

Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art Tel: 628 3457, Fax: 627 2312 info@almamalfoundation.org www.almamalfoundation.org

Alruwah Theatre

Tel: 626 2626, alruwahtheatre2000@yahoo.com

Tel: 277 7863

Theatre Day Productions

Tel: 275 0091, Fax: 275 0092 sabreen@sabreen.org, www.sabreen.org

Tel: 234 2005, Fax: 234 2004 info@urmawi.org, www.urmawi.org

Wujoud Museum

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music

Yabous Cultural Center

http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/americahouse2.html

Tel: 626 1045; Fax: 626 1372 yabous@yabous.org, www.yabous.org

Ashtar for Theatre Productions & Training

Telefax: 582 7218 info@ashtar-theatre.org, www.ashtar-theatre.org

BETHLEHEM (02)

British Council

Tel: 626 7111, Fax: 628 3021 information@ps.britishcouncil.org www.britishcouncil.org/ps

Al-Harah Theatre

Centre for Jerusalem Studies/Al-Quds University

Alliance Française de Bethléem

Telefax: 276 7758, alharahtheater@yahoo.com info@alharah.org, www.alharah.org

Tel: 628 7517, cjs@planet.edu www.jerusalem-studies.alquds.edu

Telefax: 275 0777, afbeth@p-ol.com

Anat Palestinian Folk & Craft Center

Community Action Centre (CAC)

Telefax: 277 2024, marie_musslam@yahoo.com

Tel: 627 3352, Fax: 627 4547, www.cac.alquds.edu

Arab Educational Institute (AEI)-Open Windows

Educational Bookshop

Tel: 274 4030, www.aeicenter.org

Tel: 627 5858, Fax: 628 0814 info@educationalbookshop.com www.educationalbookshop.com

Artas Folklore Center

Mob: 0597 524 524, 0599 679 492, 0503 313 136 artasfc@hotmail.com

El-Hakawati Theatre Company

Tel: 583 8836, Mobile: 0545 835 268 f.abousalem@gmail.com, www.el-hakawati.org

Badil Centre

French Cultural Centre

Beit Jala Community-Based Learning and Action Center

Tel: 277 7086

Tel: 628 2451 / 626 2236, Fax: 628 4324 ccfjeru@consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Tel: 277 7863

Issaf Nashashibi Center for Culture & Literature Telefax: 581 8232, isaaf@alqudsnet.com

Jerusalem Centre for Arabic Music Magnificat Insitute

TeleFax: 628 1377, Melia@bezeqint.net www.meliaartandtrainingcenter.com Telefax: 627 3501 info@alhoashgallery.org, www.alhoashgallary.org

Tel. 237 2863, Fax. 237 8275 arafatn24@yahoo.com

Telefax: 275 2492, highiom@hotmail.com www.thehigherinstituteofmusic.ps

French Cultural Centre

Turathuna - Centre for Palestinian Heritage (B.Uni.)

Tel: 238 5914, Fax: 238 7593 ccfnaplouse@consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Tel: 274 1241, Fax: 274 4440 pdaoud@bethlehem.edu, www.bethlehem.edu

Nablus The Culture

Tel: 233 2084, Fax: 234 5325 info@nablusculture.ps, www.nablusculture.ps

HEBRON (02)

RAMALLAH AND AL-BIREH (02)

Al Sanabl Centre for Studies and Heritage Tel: 256 0280, sanabelssc@yahoo.com www.sanabl.org, www.sanabl.ps

A. M. Qattan Foundation

Beit Et Tifl Compound

Telefax: 222 4545, tdphebron@alqudsnet.com

Tel: 296 0544, Fax: 298 4886 info@qattanfoundation.org www.qattanfoundation.org

British Council- Palestine Polytechnic University

Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque

Telefax: 229 3717, information@ps.britishcouncil.org www.britsishcouncil.org.ps

Tel: 296 5292/3, Fax: 296 5294 info@alkasaba.org, www.alkasaba.org

Children Happiness Center

Al-Kamandjâti Association

Telefax: 229 9545, children_hc@yahoo.com

Tel: 297 3101 info@alkamandjati.com, www.alkamandjati.com

Tel: 228 3663, nader@duramun.org www.duramun.org

Al-Mada Music Therapy Center

Dura Cultural Martyrs Center

Tel: 241 3196, Fax: 241 3197 info@al-mada.ps, www.al-mada.ps Telefax: 298 8091, alrahhalah@hotmail.com Tel: 296 1613, Fax: 197 1265, Mob: 0599 259 874 akel.nichola@gmail.com

Tel: 222 4811 info@hebron-france.org, wwww.hebron-france.org

Amideast

Tel: 240 8023, Fax: 240 8017 westbank-gaza@amideast.org, www.amideast.org

Tel: 274 3277, Fax 274 2939 info@ca-b.org, www.ca-b.org

Hebron Rehabilitation Committee

Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation

Palestinian Child Arts Center (PCAC)

ArtSchool Palestine

Environmental Education Center

The International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL)

Ashtar for Theatre Production

Yes Theater

Baladna Cultural Center

Tel: 532 1393, sabreen@sabreen.org

International Centre of Bethlehem-Dar Annadwa

Tel: 671 4338, Fax: 673 0993 sanabeltheatre@yahoo.com

ITIP Center “Italian Tourist Information Point”

Tel: 277 0047, Fax: 277 0048 info@diyar.ps, www.diyar.ps

Sanabel Culture & Arts Theatre

Cultural Heritage Enrichment Center

The Higher Institute of Music

Al-Rua’a Publishing House

Telefax: 276 6263, www.inadtheater.com

Sabreen Association for Artistic Development

Tel: 238 6290, Fax: 239 7518 nutaleb@hotmail.com, www.nutaleb.cjb.net

Telefax: 274 8726 info@ncm.birzeit.edu, www.birzeit.edu/music

France-Hebron Association for Cultural Exchanges

Inad Centre for Theatre and Arts

Tel: 628 0957, Fax: 627 6293, info@pnt-pal.org

Cultural Centre for Child Development

Bethlehem Peace Center

Tel: 276 5574, eec@p-ol.com, www.eecp.org

Palestinian National Theatre

Telefax: 237 5950 information@ps.britishcouncil.org www.britishcoumcil.org/ps

Al-Rahhalah Theatre

Tel: 276 6244, Fax: 276 6241 info@cchp.ps, www.cchp.ps

Palestinian Art Court - Al Hoash

British Council- Al Najah University

Tel: 221 3301/2/3/4, Fax: 221 3305 Mob: 0599 097 531

Catholic Action Cultural Center

Melia Art Center

NABLUS (09)

AMIDEAST

Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 276 4670 info@peacenter.org, www.peacenter.org

Tel: 626 6609, Fax: 626 6701 magnificat@custodia.org www.magnificatinstitute.org

Tel: 250 3345, info@thefreedomtheatre.org

Bethlehem Academy of Music/ Bethlehem Music Society Tel: 277 7141, Fax: 277 7142

Tel: 627 4774, Fax: 656 2469, mkurd@yahoo.com

The Freedom Theatre/Jenin Refugee Camp

Tent of Nations

Tel: 274 3071, Fax: 276 7446 tnations@p-ol.com, www.tentofnations.org

Tel: 626 0916, www.wujoud.org, info@wujoud.org

America House

Telfax: 250 4773 center@hakoura-jenin.ps, www.hakoura-jenin.ps

Sabreen Association for Artistic Development

Turkish Cultural Centre

Tel: 591 0530/1, Fax: 532 3310 kudustur@netvision.net.il, www.kudusbk.com

Al-Urmawi Centre for Mashreq Music

Hakoura Center

Relief International - Schools Online Bethlehem Community-Based Learning and Action Center

Tel: 627 1711, Fax: 627 1710 info@ncm.birzeit.edu, ncm.birzeit.edu

Tel: 585 4513, Fax: 583 4233 tdp@theatreday.org, www.theatreday.org

Tel: 250 2642, 250 2455 info@cinemajenin.org, www.cinemajenin.org

Telefax: 276 1131, Tel: 276 1130 russian.center@ymail.com, pse.rs.gov.ru/ar www.facebook.com/russian.center.bethlehem

Telefax: 276 0411, itipcenter@yahoo.com

Nativity Stationery Library

Telfax: 225 5640, 222 6993/4

Tel: 295 9837, info@artschoolpalestine.com www.artschoolpalestine.com

Tel: 222 4813, Fax: 222 0855 pcac@hotmail.com, www.pcac.net

Tel: 298 0037, Fax: 296 0326 info@ashtar-theatre.org, www.ashtar-theatre.org

Tel:222 9131, Fax: 229 0652 itv@ipyl.org, www.ipyl.org

Telfax: 295 8435

Telefax: 229 1559, www.yestheatre.org, info@yestheatre.org

Birzeit Ethnographic and Art Museum

Tel. 298 2976, www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu

JERICHO (02)

British Council

Tel: 296 3293-6, Fax: 296 3297 information@ps.britishcouncil.org www.britishcouncil.org/ps

Jericho Community Centre Telefax: 232 5007

Mob: 0598 950 447

Carmel Cultural Foundation

Sharek Youth Forum

Tel: 298 7375, Fax: 298 7374

Tel: 296 7741, Fax: 296 7742 info@sharek.ps, www.sharek.ps

Dar Zahran Heritage Building

Shashat

Telfax: 296 3470, Mob: 0599 511 800 info@darzahran.org, www.darzahran.org

Tel: 297 3336, Fax: 297 3338 info@shashat.org, www.shashat.org

El-Funoun Dance Troupe

Tamer Institute for Community Education

Tel: 240 2853, Fax: 240 2851 info@el-funoun.org, www.el-funoun.org

Tel: 298 6121/ 2, Fax: 298 8160 tamer@palnet.com, www.tamerinst.org

Franco-German Cultural Centre Ramallah

Tel: 298 1922 / 7727, Fax: 298 1923 info@ccf-goethe.org, www.ccf-goethe-ramallah.org

The Danish House in Palestine (DHIP)

Gallery One

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music

TeleFax: 298 8457, info@dhip.ps, www.dhip.ps

Tel: 298 9181, info@galleryone.ps

Tel: 295 9070, Fax: 295 9071 info@ncm.birzeit.edu, www.birzeit.edu/music

Greek Cultural Centre - “Macedonia” Telefax: 298 1736/ 298 0546 makdonia@palnet.com

The Palestinian Circus School

Tel: 281 2000, 0568 880 024 www.palcircus.ps, info@ palcircus.ps

In’ash Al-Usra Society- Center for Heritage & Folklore Studies

The Palestinian Network of Art Centres

Tel: 240 1123 / 240 2876, Telefax: 240 1544 usra@palnet.com, www.inash.org

Tel: 298 0036, 296 4348/9, Fax: 296 0326 iman_aoun@yahoo.com

International Academy of Arts

The Spanish Cultural Center

Tel: 296 7601, info@artacademy.ps

Tel. 296 9600, Mob: 0595 803 508 centrohispanopalestino@gmail.com

Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center

Tel: 298 7374, Fax: 296 6820 sakakini@sakakini.org, www.sakakini.org

Young Artist Forum

Mahmoud Darwish Foundation and Museum Tel: 295 2808, Fax: 295 2809 Info@darwishfoundation.org www.darwishfoundation.org

Mazra’a Qibliyeh Heritage and Tourism Centre Nawa Institute

Tel: 297 0190, info@nawainstitute.org Mob: 0597 651 408, www.palestineworkshop.com

New Swedish Hostel

Tel: 627 7855, Fax: 626 4124 swedishhost@yahoo.com www.geocities.com/swedishhostel

Tel: 626 3111, Fax: 626 0791, www.addar-hotel.com

Alcazar Hotel (38 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 628 1111; Fax: 628 7360 admin@jrscazar.com, www.jrscazar.com

Notre Dame Guesthouse (142 rooms, Su, bf, mr, cr, res, ter, cf, pf)

Ambassador Hotel (122 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 627 9111, Fax: 627 1995 info@notredamecenter.org www.notredamecenter.org

Tel: 541 2222, Fax: 582 8202 reservation@jerusalemambassador.com www.jerusalemambassador.com

Petra Hostel and Hotel

American Colony Hotel (84 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 628 6618

Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779 reserv@amcol.co.il, www.americancolony.com

Pilgrims Inn Hotel (16 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 627 2416, info@goldenwalls.com

Austrian Hospice

Ritz Hotel Jerusalem (104 rooms, bf, mr)

Tel: 626 5800, Fax: 627 1472 office@austrianhospice.com, www.austrianhospice.com

Tel: 626 9900, Fax: 626 9910 reservations@jerusalemritz.com www.jerusalemritz.com

Azzahra Hotel (15 rooms, res)

Rivoli Hotel

Tel: 628 4871, Fax: 627 4879

Savoy Hotel (17 rooms)

Tel: 628 2561/2, Fax: 626 4352

Tel: 628 3366, Fax: 628 8040

Christmas Hotel

Seven Arches Hotel (197 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 628 2588, Fax: 626 4417 christmashotel@bezeqint.net, www.christmas-hotel.com

Tel: 626 7777, Fax: 627 1319 svnarch@trendline.co.il

Commodore Hotel (45 rooms; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701 info@commodore-jer.com, www.commodore-jer.com

Arts & Crafts Village

Tel: 628 2431, Fax: 628 2401, gloriahl@netvision.net.il

Telefax: 283 3565, atlas9@palnet.com

Tel: 628 3846, Fax: 627 7485

Addar Hotel (30 suites; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 283 9929, Fax: 283 9949 reem@qcc.qattanfoundation.org www.qattanfoundation.org/qcc

Ashtar for Culture & Arts

Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art PACA

New Metropole Hotel (25 rooms; mr; res)

Tel: 627 2000, Fax: 627 1530

Tel: 626 7777, Fax: 627 1319 svnarch@bezeqint.net, www.7arches.com

Capitol Hotel (54 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Telefax: 284 6405 artvlg@palnet.com, www.gazavillage.org

Palestine Writing Workshop

7 Arches Hotel

Zawyeh Art Gallery

Al-Qattan Centre for the Child

Telefax: 281 5825, mazraaheritage@yahoo.com www.geocities.com/mazraaheritage/

New Imperial Hotel (45 rooms)

Tel: 628 2447, Fax: 628 3960 azzahrahotel@shabaka.net, www.azzahrahotel.com

GAZA STRIP (08)

Tel: 295 7937, Fax: 298 7598

EAST JERUSALEM (02)

Telefax: 296 7654, yaf@palnet.com Mob. 0597 994 997 anani.ziad@gmail.com, www.zawyeh.net

Manar Cultural Center

St. Andrew’s Scottish Guesthouse “The Scottie” (19 rooms +Self Catering Apartment)

Gloria Hotel (94 rooms; mr; res)

Tel: 673 2401, Fax: 673 1711 standjer@netvision.net.il, www.scotsguesthouse.com

Golden Walls Hotel (112 rooms)

St George Hotel Jerusalem

Tel: 627 2416, Fax: 626 4658 info@goldenwalls.com, www.goldenwalls.com

Tel: 627 7232 Fax: 627 7233 info@stgeorgehoteljerusalem.com www.stgeorgehoteljerusalem.com

Holy Land Hotel (105 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 296 7601, fax: 295 1849 paca@pal-paca.org, www.pal-paca.org

Culture & Light Centre

Telefax: 286 5896, ifarah@palnet.com

Tel: 627 2888, Fax: 628 0265 info@holylandhotel.com, www.holylandhotel.com

Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange (PACE)

Dialogpunkt Deutsch Gaza (Goethe-Insitut)

ibis Styles Jerusalem Sheikh Jarrah (91 rooms) Tel: 578 3100, Fax: 578 3129, www.ibis.com

Tel: 628 3302, Fax: 628 2253 sghostel@bezeqint.net

Fawanees Theatre Group

Jerusalem Hotel (14 rooms; bf; mr; res; live music)

St. Thomas Home

French Cultural Centre

Jerusalem Meridian Hotel (74 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Strand Hotel (88 rooms; mr; res)

Tel: 282 0203, Fax: 282 1602

Tel: 240 7611, Telfax: 240 7610 pace@p-ol.com, www.pace.ps

Telefax: 288 4403

Popular Art Center

Tel: 240 3891, Fax: 240 2851 info@popularartcentre.org www.popularartcentre.org

Tel: 286 7883, Fax: 282 8811 ccfgaza@consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS)

Gaza Theatre

Ramallah Cultural Palace

Tel: 282 4860, Fax: 282 4870

Tel: 628 3282, Fax: 628 3282 raed@jrshotel.com, www.jrshotel.com

Global Production and Distribution

Telefax: 288 4399, art.global@yahoo.com

Tel: 294 5555, Fax: 295 2107 rcpevents@ramallah-city.ps

Holst Cultural Centre

Hashimi Hotel

RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural Conservation

Theatre Day Productions

Knights Palace Guesthouse (50 rooms)

Windows from Gaza For Contemporary Art

Legacy Hotel

Telefax: 283 6766, tdpgaza@palnet.com

Sandouq Elajab Theatre

Mob. 0599 781 227 - 0599 415 045 info@artwfg.ps

Tel: 296 5638, 295 3206 sandouqelajab@yahoo.com

Tel: 628 0279, Fax: 628 4826

Victoria Hotel (50 rooms; bf; res)

Jerusalem Panorama Hotel (74 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 241 3002

Tel: 240 6887, Fax: 240 6986 riwaq@palnet.com, www.riwaq.org

Tel: 628 2657, 627 4318, Fax: 626 4684 aset@aset-future.com, www.aset-future.net

Tel: 628 5212, Fax: 628 5214 www.jerusalem-meridian.com

Tel: 628 4887, Fax: 627 3699 panorama@alqudsnet.com www.jerusalempanoramahotel.com

Tel: 281 0476, Fax: 280 8896, mcrcg@palnet.com

St. George’s Pilgrim Guest House (25 rooms; bf; res)

Tel: 627 4466, Fax: 627 4171 Info@4victoria-hotel.com, www.4victoria-hotel.com

BETHLEHEM (02)

Tel: 628 4410, Fax: 628 4667, info@hashimihotel.com

Alexander Hotel (42 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 277 0780, Fax: 277 0782

Tel: 628 2537, Fax: 628 2401, kp@actcom.co.il

Al-Salam Hotel (26 rooms; 6f; mr; cf; res)

Tel: 276 4083/4, Fax: 277 0551, samhotel@p-ol.com

Tel: 627 0800, Fax: 627 7739 info@jerusalemlegacy.com, www.jerusalemlegacy.com

Angel Hotel Beit Jala

Tel: 276 6880, Fax: 276 6884 info@angelhotel.ps, www.angelhotel.ps

Metropol Hotel

Sareyyet Ramallah - First Ramallah Group (FRG)

Tel: 628 2507, Fax: 628 5134

Tel: 295 2690 - 295 2706, Fax: 298 0583 sareyyet@sareyyet.ps, www.sareyyet.ps

Ararat Hotel (101 rooms, mr, ter, cf)

Tel: 274 9888, Fax: 276 9887 info@ararat-hotel.com, www.ararat–hotel.com

Mount of Olives Hotel (61 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 628 4877, Fax: 626 4427 info@mtolives.coml, www.mtolives.com

Beit Al-Baraka Youth Hostel (19 rooms) Tel: 222 9288, Fax: 222 9288

Mount Scopus Hotel (65 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 582 8891, Fax: 582 8825, mtscopus@netvision.net.il

Bethlehem Bible College Guest House (11 rooms; mr; pf)

National Hotel (99 rooms; bf; cr; res; cf)

Tel: 274 1190, guesthouse@bethbc.org

Tel: 627 8880, Fax: 627 7007 www.nationalhotel-jerusalem.com

Paradise Hotel (166 rooms;cf;bf;mr;res;su;pf)

Beit Ibrahim Guesthouse

Tel: 274 2613, Fax: 274 4250 reception@luthchurch.com www.abrahams-herberge.com

Tel: 274 4542/3 - 274 4544, paradise@p-ol.com

St. Antonio Hotel (36 rooms; mr; cf;res;pf)

Bethlehem Hotel (209 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 277 0702, Fax: 277 0706, bhotel@p-ol.com

Telfax: 238 1064 ifriends.house@gmail.com, www.guesthouse.ps

Rocky Hotel (22 rooms; cf; res; ter)

Saint Gabriel Hotel

Saleem Afandi Hotel

Palestine Plaza Hotel (100 rooms and suites; bf; res; gym; cf)

Tel: 274 2424, Fax: 274 2423

Tel: 275 9990, Fax: 275 9991 Reservation@st-gabrielhtel.com www.st-gabrielhotel.com

Bethlehem Star Hotel (72 rooms; cf; bf; res)

Saint Michael Hotel

Casanova Hospice (60 rooms; mr; res) Tel: 274 3981, Fax: 274 3540

Santa Maria Hotel (83 rooms; mr; res)

Aladdin Hotel (27 rooms bf; mr; ter)

El-Beit Guest House (Beit Sahour) (15 rooms)

Al-Hajal Hotel (22 rooms; bf)

Eman Regency Palace (55 rooms; su (1); cr; res)

St. Nicholas Hotel (25 rooms; res; mr) Tel: 274 3040/1/2, Fax: 274 3043

Everest Hotel (19 rooms; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 276 0967/8, Fax: 276 0970 svincent@p-ol.com, www.saintvincentguesthouse.net

Saint Vincent Guest House (36 rooms)

Tel: 274 2604, Fax: 274 1278

Talita Kumi Guest House (22 rooms; res; mr; cf)

Grand Hotel (107 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 274 1602 - 274 1440, Fax: 274 1604 info@grandhotelbethlehem.com

Tel: 274 1247, Fax: 274 1847

Golden Park Resort & Hotel (Beit Sahour) (66 rooms; res, bar, pool)

Tel: 275 0655

Zaituna Tourist Village

JERICHO (02)

Tel: 277 4414

Grand Park Hotel Bethlehem (Has 110 rooms located in 7 floors, main restaurant, dining room, conference room and bar.)

Al- Zaytouna Guest House (7 rooms; bf; res; mr) Telefax: 274 2016 Deir Hijleh Monastery Tel: 994 3038, 0505 348 892

Tel: 275 6400, Fax: 276 3736 info@grandpark.com, www.grandpark.com

Auberg-Inn Bed & Breakfast

Holy Family Hotel (90 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res;)

Tel: 277 3432/3, Fax: 274 8650 holyfamilyhotel@hotmail.com www.holyfamilyhotel.com

Tel: 277 8962/3, Fax: 277 8961 holylandhotel@hotmail.com, www.holylandhotel.net

House of Hope Guesthouse House of Peace Hostel

Tel: 276 4739, www.houseofpeace.hostel.com/

Hosh Al-Syrian Guesthouse

Tel: 274 7529, reservations@hoshalsyrian.com www.hoshalsyrian.com

Jacir Palace Hotel - Bethlehem (250 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res) Lutheran Guesthouse “Abu Gubran”

Star Mountain Guesthouse (10 rooms; wifi; pf)

AlZahra Suites

Taybeh Golden Hotel

Ankars Suites and Hotel (40 Suites & Rooms, su,mr,bf,cr,res,ter,cf,gm,pf)

Tel: 276 4660 Fax: 275 3807 olivetreehotel@yahoo.com Facebook: olive tree tourist village

Telefax: 238 6220

Chrystal Motel (12 rooms) 84

Telefax: 233 3281

Telefax: 282 5181, 282 6223, 286 3481, 282 2269

Beach Hotel (25 rooms; bf; mr; res) Telefax: 282 5492, 284 8433

Commodore Gaza Hotel (60 rooms;su; bf) Tel: 283 4400, Fax: 282 2623

Gaza International Hotel (30 rooms; bf; cf; res)

Gemzo Suites (90 executive suites; cs; mr; pf; gm; res)

Grand Palace Hotel (20 rooms; cr; mr; cf; res)

Tel: 283 0001/2/3/4, Fax: 283 0005

Tel: 240 9729, Fax: 240 9532 gemzo@palnet.com, www.gemzosuites.net

Merryland Hotel (25 rooms)

Asia Hotel (28 rooms, res)

Al-Quds International Hotel (44 rooms; 2 suites; bf; mr; res)

Tel: 298 6194, Fax: 295 6950, info@grandpark.com

Al-Qaser Hotel (48 rooms; 7 regular suites, 1 royal suite; bf; cf; mr; res)

Olive Tree Hotel (20 rooms; 6 su; res; sp; bar; wifi-lobby)

Tel: 285 8444, Fax: 285 8440 info@almathaf.ps, www.almathaf.ps

Tel: 240 8080, Fax: 240 8091 cityinnpalace@gmail.com, www.cityinnpalace.com

Nativity BELLS Hotel (95 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 233 3555 Fax: 233 3666 yasmeen@palnet.com, www.alyasmeen.com

Almat’haf Hotel

Tel: 297 9400, Fax: 297 9401 reservation@caesar-hotel.ps, www.caesar-hotel.ps

Manarah Hotel

Al-Yasmeen Hotel & Souq (30 rooms; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 283 2500, Fax: 283 2510 mashtal@arcmedhotels.com www.almashtalarcmedhotels.com

Caesar Hotel (46 rooms & su, 2 mr, cr, res, cf)

NABLUS (09)

Tel: 277 0650, Fax: 274 4083 nativity@nativity-hotel.com, www.nativity-hotel.com

Al Mashtal Hotel

Tel: 296 0450, Fax: 295 8452, besteastern@jrol.com

Murad Tourist Resort

Nativity Hotel (89 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 283 8100/200/300, Fax: 283 8400 info@aldeira.ps, www.aldeira.ps

Best Eastern Hotel (91 rooms; cf; res)

Lavender Boutique Hotel ( 10 rooms, cf;mr;res)

Tel: 2341 444, Fax: 2341 944 alqaser@alqaserhotel.com, www.alqaserhotel.com

Al-Deira (22 Suits; cf; mr; res; ter)

Tel: 296 6477, Fax: 296 6479 beauty.inn@hotmail.com, www.beautyinn.ps

Hebron Hotel

Tel: 274 8880, Fax: 274 8870 nativitybells@palnet.com, www.nativitybellshotel.ps

Telefax: 282 3521/19, Fax: 282 5580

Mob: 0569 349 042, ehab@ramallahhostel.com

Manger Square Hotel (220 Rooms; bf; cf; mr; res; cr)

Tel: 2759880, Fax:2759881, www.murad.ps

Adam Hotel (76 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 295 2602, Fax: 295 2603, Info@ankars.ps Area: D Hostel (50 beds, 2 private appartments) Mob: 0569 349 042, Info@RamallahHostel.com

Grand Park Hotel & Resorts (84 rooms; 12 grand suites; bf; cf; mr; res; sp; pf)

Tel: 225 4240 / 222 9385, Fax: 222 6760 hebron_hotel@hotmail.com

GAZA STRIP (08)

Telefax: 298 0412

Garden Suites and Restaurant (22 suites (su, res, pf)

Tel: 277 8888, Fax: 277 8889 fabudayyeh@mangersquarehotel.com Web: www.mangersquarehotel.com

Tel: 289 9440, Fax: 970-2-289-9441 www.taybehgoldenhotel.com

Al-Wihdah Hotel

HEBRON (02)

Tel: 277 0047, Guesthouse@diyar.ps, www.diyar.ps

Tel: 296 2705, Telefax: 296 2715 starmountaincenter@gmail.com

Tel: 242 3019 alzahrasuites@yahoo.com, www.alzahrasuites.ps

Jerusalem Hotel (22 rooms)

Tel: 232 1590, Fax: 232 1598 info@jericho-cablecar.com

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770

Tel: 295 2602

Tel: 298 8868, 298 8008 almanarahotel@hotmail.com, www.almanarahotel.ps

City Inn Palace Hotel (47 rooms; bf; cf; res)

Telepherique & Sultan Tourist Center (55 rooms)

Summer Bar (Ankars Garden)

Al-Manara hotel (22 rooms)

Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189 reservation@jerichoresorts.com www.jerichoresorts.com Tel: 232 2444, Fax: 992 3109

Tel: 296 4040, Fax: 296 4047 info@rcshotel.com, www.rcshotel.com

Tel: 295 6226 - 295 0031, Fax: 295 0032 alhambrapalace1@gmail.com www.alhambra-palace-hotel.com

Beauty Inn

Jericho Resort Village (92 rooms; 46 studios; bf; cf; mr; res)

Tel: 274 2325, Fax: 274 0928 Guesthouse@houseofhopemd.org

Royal Court Suite Hotel (39 rooms; res; mr; ter; cf; pf; i)

Al Hambra Palace (Hotel Suites and Resort)

Hisham Palace Hotel

Tel: 231 1200, Fax: 231 1222 reservation@oasis-jericho.ps

Telefax: 295 0022, Retno@retnohotel.com www.retnohotel.com

Telefax: 298 7858

Area D Hostel

Oasis Jericho Hotel (181 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res; ter; tb)

Holy Land Hotel

Telefax: 2810881, www.reefhousepension.ps

Telefax: 240 0803

Tel: 0523 500 041, 0522 626 067 info@housepitality.net, www.auberginn.ps Tel: 232 2414, Fax: 232 3109

Tel: 295 3544, Fax: 295 5029

Retno Hotel (33 rooms & su; res; mr; gm; sp)

Shepherds’ House Hotel (Facilities: Restaurant and Bar, WiFi)

Tel: 277 2010, Fax: 274 6808 info@emanregencyhotel.ps, www.emanregencyhotel.ps

Ramallah Hotel (22 rooms; bf; mr; res) Reef Pension (Jifna village) (8 rooms; res)

Al-Bireh Tourist Hotel (50 rooms; cf; res)

Tel: 275 9690, Fax: 275 9693

Telefax: 295 6808

Tel: 240 7689, Fax: 240 7687, Mob. 0598 308 382 aladdinhotel1@gmail.com, www.thealaddinhotel.com

Tel: 274 0656, Fax: 274 4888 info@shepherdhotel.com, www.shepherdhotel.com

TeleFax: 277 5857, info@elbeit.org, www.elbeit.org

Pension Miami (12 rooms)

Tel: 240 5925 - 240 4353, Fax: 240 4332 alainhotel@hotmail.com

Dar Sitti Aziza Hotel

Telefax: 274 4848 info@darsittiaziza.com, www.darsittiaziza.com

Tel: 294 6888, Fax: 297 3574 reservations@palestineplazahotel.com

RAMALLAH and AL-BIREH (02) Al-A’in Hotel (24 rooms and suites; mr; cf)

Shepherd Hotel

Tel: 274 2798, Fax: 274 1562

Tel: 296 4470, Telefax: 296 1871

Tel: 237 3338/9, Fax: 237 3340 www.saleemafandihotel.ps

Tel: 276 9921/2/3, Fax: 277 2244 info@saintmichaelhotel.com www.saintmichaelhotel.com Tel: 276 7374/5/6, Fax: 276 7377, smaria@p-ol.com

Casanova Palace Hotel (25 rooms; bf; res)

hotel.ramallah.reservation@moevenpick.com www.moevenpick-ramallah.com

Tel: 276 6221, Fax: 276 6220

Bethlehem Inn (36 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 274 3249 - 277 0285, Fax: 274 1494 htstar@palnet.com

International Friends Guesthouse (Hostel) (mr; res; ter; cf; pf)

Tel: 284 9498/6468, Fax: 284 9497

Marna House (17 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 282 2624, Fax: 282 3322

Tel: 298 8885, Fax: 298 8876, info@gardensuite.net

Palestine Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: Tel: 282 3355, Fax: 286 0056

Telefax: 297 7073 reservation@lavenderboutiquehotel.com www.lavenderboutiquehotel.com

JENIN (04) Cinema Jenin Guesthouse (7 rooms; 2 su)

Tel: 250 2455, Mob: 0599 317 968 guesthouse@cinemajenin.org, www.cinemajenin.org

Tel: 295 2122, Telefax: 295 3274 manarah@hotmail.com, www.manarahhotel.com.ps

Haddad Hotel & Resort

Tel: 241 7010/1/2, Fax: 241 7013 haddadbooking@ymail.com www.haddadtourismvillage.com

Tel: 298 7176, Telefax: 298 7074

North Gate Hotel

Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah (171 rooms and Su; bf; mr; cr; res;ter; cf; gm; pf; sp)

Tel: 243 5700, Fax: 243 5701 info@northgate-hotel.com, www.northgate-hotel.com

Tel: 298 5888, Fax: 298 533 hotel.ramallah@moevenpick.com

Key: su = suites, bf = business facilities; mr = meeting rooms, cr = conference facilities; res = restaurant, ter = terrace bar; tb = turkish bath, cf = coffee shop; gm = gym; pf = parking facilities, sp = swimming pool 85

King Gaspar Restaurant & Bar (Italian, Asian and Mediterranean Cuisine)

Tel: 276 5301, Fax: 276 5302

Il’iliyeh Restaurant Continental Cuisine Tel: 277 0047

Layal Lounge Snack Bar Tel: 275 0655

La Terrasse Middle Eastern and

EAST JERUSALEM (02) Al-Diwan (Ambassador Hotel)

Middle Eastern, French, and Italian Cuisine

Tel: 541 2213, Fax: 582 8202

Alhambra Palace Jerusalem Restaurant & coffee shop

Lotus and Olive Garden (Jerusalem Meridian Hotel) Middle Eastern and Continental Cuisine

Tel: 628 5212

Nafoura Middle Eastern Menu Tel: 626 0034

Tel: 626 3535, Fax: 6263737 info@alhambrapalacej.com

Nakashian Gallery Café

Al-Manakeesh Pizza & Pastries

La Rotisserie (Notre Dame Hotel) Gourmet Restaurant, European and

Tel: 585 6928

Al-Shuleh Grill Shawerma and

Barbecues

Tel: 627 3768

Amigo Emil Middle Eastern, American, Indian, and Italian Cuisine

Tel: 628 8090, Fax: 626 1457

Antonio’s (Ambassador Hotel)

Middle Eastern, French, and Italian Cuisine

Tel: 541 2213

Arabesque, Poolside, and Patio Restaurants (American Colony Hotel) Western and Middle Eastern Menu Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779

Armenian Tavern Armenian and Middle Eastern Food

Tel: 627 3854

Askidinya Italian and French Cuisine Tel: 532 4590

Az-Zahra Oriental food and Pizza Tel: 628 2447

Borderline Restaurant Café Italian and Oriental Menu

Tel: 532 8342

Tel: 627 8077

Mediterranean Menu

Tel: 627 9114, Fax: 627 1995

Dina Café Coffee and Pastry Tel: 626 3344

Educational Bookshop Books

and Coffee

Tel: 627 5858

and Barbecues

Tel. 274 1897

Abu Shanab Restaurant Barbecues Tel: 274 2985

Afteem Restaurant Oriental Cuisine Tel: 274 7940

Al-Areesheh Palace (autumn and winter) (Jacir Palace) Middle

Eastern and Barbecues

and Italian Cuisine

Philadelphia Restaurant Tel: 532 2626, Fax: 532 2636

Shalizar Restaurant Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Italian Cuisine

Tel: 582 9061

The Gate Café Fresh Juices, Coffee,

and Tea

Barbara Restaurant

Oriental Cuisine

Tel: 627 4282

Tel: 277 6336, Fax: 277 6337

Four Seasons Restaurants and Coffee Shop Barbecues and Shawerma

Tel: 627 7232, Fax: 627 7233

Ewaan Restaurant (International

Versavee Bistro (Bar and Café)

Tel: 274 3737

Tel: 627 6160

Fawda Cafe

Victoria Restaurant Middle Eastern

Tel: 274 7529

Tel: 585 3223

Kan Zaman (Jerusalem Hotel) Mediterranean Cuisine

Tel: 673 2401, Fax: 673 1711 and European Menu

Oriental and Western Food

Dar al-Balad Continental Cuisine Tel: 274 9073

Divano Café and Restaurant Tel: 275 7276 divanocafe@gmail.com Cuisine)

Hosh Al-Syrian Guesthouse

and Arabic Menu

Grotto Restaurant Barbecues and

Wake up Restaurant

Tel: 274 8844, Fax: 274 8889

Zad Rest. & Café

Tel: 274 3224

Tel: 628 3051, Fax: 627 4171 Tel: 627 8880

Tel: 627 7454, 627 2525

The Tent Restaurant (Shepherds’ Valley Village) Barbecues Tel: 277 3875, Fax: 277 3876

Sima Café

Elite Coffee House Italian and Arabic

Mob: 0599 258 435 Tel: 290 5124

Taboon

Golden Roof Continental Cuisine

Tel: 2951 7031, 296 6505

Akasha Oriental Tel: 295 9333

Escape fresh, healthy food

Allegro Italian Restaurant (Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah) Italian

Express Pizza American Pizza

fine cuisine

Tel: 295 9976, Mob: 0592 333 477 Tel: 296 6566

Fakhr El-Din Lebanese Cuisine

Tel: 298 5888

Tel: 294 6800

Fawanees Pastries and Fast Food Tel: 298 7046

Oriental cuisine

Fatuta Reataurant Barbecues, (Birzeit)

Awjan Seafood, Breakfast, and Pizza, Coffee

Fuego Mexican and Tapas Grill

Mob. 0599 839 043

Shop, Lebanese and Italian Cuisine

Tel: 297 1776

Andre’s Restaurant French and

Tel: 29 59426 - 1700 999 888

Jasmine Café Tel: 295 0121

Angelo’s Western Menu and Pizza

K5M - Caterers Cake and Sweets

Cuisine and Barbecues

Ayysha Restaurant Oriental Cuisine

Khuzama Restaurant Oriental Cuisine

Tachi Chinese Chinese Cuisine

Azure Restaurant and Coffee Shop Continental Cuisine

La Vie Café Cafe, Bistro & Bar

Taboo – Restaurant and Bar

Baladna Ice Cream Ice Cream and

Mob. 0597 492 175

Tel: 296 6477/8

Tel: 297 5444

Tel: 295 6408, 298 1455 Tel: 296 6622

Telefax: 295 7850

Oriental and Continental Cuisine

Soft Drinks

Tel: 274 0711, Mob: 0599 205 158

Telefax: 295 6721

The Square Restaurant and Coffee Shop Mediterranean Cuisine

Bel Mondo Italian Cuisine Tel: 298 6759

Tel: 274 9844

Caesar’s (Grand Park Hotel)

Zaitouneh (Jacir Palace) Continental

Tel: 298 6194

Cuisine

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154

Continental Cuisine

Tel: 298 0880

JERICHO (02)

Casper & Gambini’s Palestine

Al-Nafoura Restaurant (Jericho Resort Village) Arabic Cuisine and

Castana Café

Barbecues

Tel: 298 8262

Tel: 296 4115

La Vista Café and Restaurant Oriental and Western Cuisine

Tel: 296 3271

LEMON Palestine Tel: 296 6933

Level 5 Fusion European Tel: 298 8686 Cuisine

Tel: 297 2125

Mac Simon Pizza and Fast Food Tel: 297 2088 Tel: 297 9400

Castello Restaurant & Café

Al-Rawda Barbecues

Tel: 297 3844/55

Green Valley Park Oriental Cuisine

Tel: 298 8289

Martini Bar (Caesar Hotel)

Tel: 297 1114

Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189 Telefax: 232 2555

Tel: 295 6813

Cann Espresso Arabic and Italian

Café De La Paix French Cuisine

Oriental

Chinese House Restaurant Chinese Cuisine

Mr. Donuts Café Donuts and Coffee Shop

Tel: 240 7196

Mr. Fish Seafood Tel: 295 9555

Mr. Pizza Pizza and Fast Food

Tel: 296 4081

Tel: 240 3016, 240 8182

Tel: 232 2349

European Coffee Shop Coffee

and Sweets

Janan’s Kitchen

and Barbecues

Tel: 627 1356

Tel: 296 5169

Italian Cuisine

Tel: 275 2058

Tel: 274 4382

Turquoise Lebanese Restaurant

Goodies Fast Food

Al-Riwaq Restaurant and Coffee Shop snacks and cakes (Jacir Palace – InterContinental Bethlehem) Coffee Shop and Sandwiches

Tel: 274 0406

Tel: 627 4626

Tel: 581 6463

Tel: 274 9990. Mob. 0598 154 800

Bonjour Restaurant and Café

Tel: 628 2588, 626 4418

Garden’s Restaurant

Seafood, Steaks & Middle Eastern

Tel: 274 3780, Fax: 274 1833 st.george_restaurant@yahoo.com

Flavours Grill International Cuisine with

Tel: 540 9974

Cuisine

St. George Restaurant Oriental

Christmas Bells Restaurants

Dream Restaurant and Pools (Jifna)

Al Falaha Msakhan and Taboun

Beit Sahour Citadel Mediterranean

Coffee Shop and Continental Cuisine

Tel: 296 4046

Tel: 749 888, Fax: 276 9887

Snack Food

Singer Café

Tel: 277 7771

International Cuisine

Cuisine

Tel: 274 0130 barbra.rest1@hotmail.com Cuisine

Vintage (Royal Court)

Andareen Pub

Tel: 298 5888

Rossini’s Restaurant Bar French

Cuisine

Noah’s Snack/ Ararat Hotel

Tel: 274 9110

Tel: 0598 333 665

Tel: 275 0221, Fax: 277 7115

Tel: 295 0590/1

Tel: 201 1548, Mob. 0599 765 628 dream.jifna@gmail.com

Tel: 296 5911

Roots Lounge (Beit Sahour)

Balloons Coffee Shop and Pizza

Darna Continental Cuisine

911 Café Mexican, Italian, Oriental

Al-Sammak Sea Food Restaurant

Tel: 583 5460

Mob. 0599 318 191, 0597 767 832

Massina (Breakfast)

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

Cuisine

Mediterranean, Italian cuisine

RAMALLAH AND AL-BIREH (02)

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770

RIO Grill and Subs Italian and French

Dar 53 Bar and Restaurant

Tel: 274 1440, 274 1602/3 Fax: 274 1604

Snack Bar

The Patio (Christmas Hotel) Oriental

Gallery Café Snacks and Beverages

Continental Cuisine and Pastries

Pizza House Pizza and Oriental Pastry

Tel: 277 0376, 2743530 Fax: 277 0377

Tel: 297 4655

Tel: 296 6483

Tel: 238 4180

Al Makan Bar (Jacir Palace)

Tel: 628 4228

Dauod Basha

Diwan Art Coffee Shop Continental

Tel: 627 7799

Quick Lunch

Mob: 0597 348 335

Qasr al-Jabi restaurant

Al- Riwaq All-day-dining restaurant (Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah) International, Swiss and

Tel: 627 3970, 628 8135

Clara restaurant and pub

Tel: 237 1332

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154

Tel: 626 0993

Tel: 628 6061, Fax: 628 6097

Salim Afandi Barbecues and Oriental

Cuisine

Petra Restaurant Oriental Cuisine

The Scots Bistro Coffee and Pastry

Mediterranean Flavour

Mexican Cuisine

Al-Areesheh Tent (spring and summer) (Jacir Palace) Middle Eastern and Barbecues

NABLUS (09)

Tel: 238 3164, Fax: 233 3666

Patisserie Suisse Fast Food and Tel: 628 4377

Tel: 231 2977, Fax: 231 2976

Mariachi (Grand Hotel) Seafood and

Peace Restaurant & Bar Pasta,

Breakfast

Limoneh Continental Cuisine

Zeit Ou Zaater (Al-Yasmeen Hotel)

Tel: 277 3335

and Fast Food

Tel: 232 2614, Fax: 232 2659

Tel: 275 5161

Tel: 582 5162, 532 8342

Pasha’s Oriental Food

El Dorada Coffee Shop and Internet Café Chocolates, Coffee, and Internet

Little Italy

Telefax: 275 6622

Cardo Restaurant Continental Cuisine Tel: 626 3465, Fax: 626 3471

Abu Eli Restaurant Middle Eastern

Tel: 275 8844, Fax: 275 8833

Al-Hakura Restaurant Middle Eastern

Tel: 628 4433, Fax: 627 5224

Mediterranean Menu

Chinese Restaurant Chinese Cuisine

Tel: 277 8779 restaurant.1890@gmail.com

Limoncello (Beit Jala)

Palmeras Gastropub Continental

Tel: 628 2964

Tel: 627 0800

1890 Restaurant (Beit-Jala)

Tel: 275 3678

Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154

Panoramic Golden City Barbecues

Burghoulji Armenian and Middle Eastern Tel: 628 2072, Fax: 628 2080

BETHLEHEM (02)

Continental Cuisine

Jabal Quruntul Continental Cuisine (Open Buffet)

Muntaza Restaurant and Garden Barbecues and Sandwiches

Tel: 295 6835

Na3Na3 Café Italian and Oriental

Samer Middle Eastern Food

Tel: 240 5338 - 240 3088

Tel: 298 1033

Scoop

Tel: 295 9189

Cuisine

Tel: 296 4606

Sangria’s French, Italian, and Mexican

Nai Resto Café - Argeeleh

Tel: 295 6808

Newz Bar Lounge and “Le Gourmet”

Mob: 0595 403 020 pastries’ corner

Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah Tel: 298 5888

Osama’s Pizza Pizza and Fast Food Tel: 295 3270

Orjuwan Lounge Palestinian-Italian

Fusion

Tel: 297 6870

Zam’n Premium Coffee Masyoun Coffee Shop Style Zarour Bar BQ Barbecues and Oriental

Cuisine

Tel: 295 6767, 296 4480 Fax: 296 4357

Shishapresso

Zeit ou Zaater Pastries and Snacks

Tel: 296 6060

Tel: 295 4455

Sinatra Gourmet Italian and American

Cuisine

Ziryab Barbecues, Italian, and Oriental Tel: 295 9093

Tel: 297 1028

Sindyan Restaurant and café

GAZA STRIP (08)

Sky Bar (Ankars Suites and Hotel)

Al Daar Barbecues

Tel: 298 9575

Continental Cuisine

Tel: 295 2602

Sky Gate Terrace and Bar

Tel: 288 5827

Al-Deira Mediterranean Cuisine

Tel: 294 6888, Fax: 297 3574

Tel: 283 8100/200/300 Fax: 2838400

Sushi Restaurant (Caesar Hotel)

Almat’haf Mediterranean Cuisine

Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah

Al-Molouke Shawerma

Tel: 298 5755

Stones Continental Cuisine

Al-Salam Seafood

Peter’s Place Restaurant & Bar (Taybeh) Palestinian Cuisine

Tabash (Jifna Village) Barbecues

Avenue

Tal El-Qamar Roof Middle Eastern and

Big Bite Fastfood

Rama café Resto/Bar Tel: 298 5376

Palestine Revolving Restaurant (23rd floor, Palestine Trade Tower) Tel: 294 6888, Fax: 297 3574

PASTICHE Palestine

Tel: 289 8054, Mob: 0547 043 029

Pesto Café and Restaurant Italian

Tel: 297 9400 Tel: 298 5888 Tel: 296 6038 Tel: 281 0932

Cuisine

Western Menu

Pizza Inn Pizza and Fast Food

TCHE TCHE

Philadelphia Restaurant Middle

THE Q GARDEN Roof-top garden International Cusine

Tel: 297 0705, 297 0706 Tel: 298 1181/2/3 Eastern Menu

Tel: 295 1999

Philistia Restaurant & Catering Palestinian cuisine

Tel: 298 9051

Plaza Jdoudna Restaurant and Park Middle Eastern Menu Tel: 295 6020, Fax: 296 4693

Tel: 298 7905/ 6

Tel: 285 8444, Fax: 285 8440 Tel: 286 8397

Tel: 282 2705, Telefax: 283 3188 Tel: 288 2100, 288 3100 Tel: 283 3666

Carino’s

Tel: 286 6343, Fax: 286 6353

Tel: 296 4201

Tel: 295 7727

LATERNA

Tel: 288 9881, Fax: 288 9882

Light House Tel: 288 4884

Tomasso’s Pizza and Fast Food

Marna House

Tropicana Mexican Cuisine, Oriental

Mazaj Coffee House

Tel: 240 9991/ 2 Menu, and Zarb

Tel: 297 5661

Pronto Resto-Café Italian Cuisine

UpTown (Ankars Suites and Hotel) Continental Cuisine

QMH

Values Restaurant International and

Roma Café Italian Light Food

European Style

Tel: 298 7312

Tel: 295 2602

Telefax: 282 3322, 282 2624 Tel: 286 8035

Mazaj Resturant

Tel: 282 5003, Fax: 286 9078

Orient House

Telefax: 282 8008, 282 8604

Seafood

Roots - The Club Oriental Cuisine

Tel: 296 6997

Tel: 288 8666, 282 3999, 282 3777

Tel: 296 4228

Vatche’s Garden Restaurant

Abu Mazen Restaurant

Rukab’s Ice Cream Ice Cream and

Tel: 296 5966, 296 5988

Al Quds Restaurant

Tel: 297 34511

Soft Drinks

Tel: 295 3467

Zam’n Premium Coffee Coffee

Saba Sandwiches Falafel and

Shop Style

Tel: 296 0116

Zaki Taki Sandwiches

Sandwiches

Tel: 221 3833, Fax: 229 3111 Tel: 229 7773, Fax: 229 7774

Golden Rooster

Tel: 295 0600 Tel: 296 3643

Telefax: 221 6115

Hebron Restaurant Telefax: 222 7773

Orient House Restaurant Telefax: 221 1525

Royal Restaurant Tel: 222 7210

Map Source: PalMap - GSE © Copyright to GSE and PalMap Map source, designer and publisher: GSE - Good Shepherd Engineering & Computing P.O.Box 524, 8 Jamal Abdel Nasser St., Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine Tel: +970 2 274 4728 / Fax: +970 2 275 1204 (Also +972) map@palmap.org / www.gsecc.com / www.palmap.org

AMALLAH and AL-BIREH

t A Federation of Two States A friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous, recently proposed a bold solution to the seemingly eternal Middle East conflict. He prefers to remain anonymous simply because his proposal is a personal, theoretical idea, and he is not interested in spending time on long debates about it. For the purpose of this column, however, I will refer to him as Zaki. To his credit, I feel compelled to say that Zaki is one of the smartest people I have ever met. Though he realizes fully that the devil is in the detail, Zaki’s proposal is based on the solution of the Balkan problem or the Bosnian civil war that erupted in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995, after the breakup of former Yugoslavia; a solution that has been tried and has actually worked for a conflict in which horrifying atrocities were committed and which took the lives of an estimated 100,000 people, mostly Bosniaks. When the United Nations was unable to stop the bloodshed, foreign powers forcibly intervened and effectively divided the country, compelling the Serbs to return parts of the territory they had gained by force. A federal state of two united republics was formed, and the two communities were obliged to coexist. It was a shotgun sort of marriage but fortunately one that has drifted into peaceful coexistence today. No killing of each other now, and the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina are peacefully carrying on with their lives, even though their history is much more violent and full of hatred than that of the peoples in Mandate Palestine today! The suggested solution is a federation of two states, along the 1949 armistice lines (known today as the pre-1967 borders), with Jerusalem as the federal capital. Just like in Bosnia and Herzegovina, neither party gets all it wants, Zaki says, but both populations will get what they need: peace and tranquility. Much to the dismay of Palestinians, Israel will exist with safe borders, and equally, much to the dismay of Israelis, an independent Palestine will exist with safe and free borders and will finally gain true international recognition. As Zaki notes, the proposal is, in effect, another shotgun marriage that would bring both parties to their senses. At this stage, determining who is right or wrong is not the priority; that should be left to the academics and think tanks, not to the residents of Musrara and Mahane Yehuda! Zaki believes that this solution is better than the alternative “two-state solution,” which depends on the mutual acceptance of both communities. Unless both parties are led by an outsider, an enforcer, the parties are not likely to reach common ground. Although a million questions come to mind, Zaki has identified one, given that Israel will automatically have a large Palestinian minority (1948 Palestinians): Will the new Palestinian State contain a Jewish minority? The devil is in the detail indeed. Someone commented: “How about if they do a referendum on Irsaexit?” Food for thought, no doubt. NB: Zaki has granted permission for me to use his proposal as a basis for this column. Sani P. Meo Publisher 98