A Message of Hope
There are many reasons why the overall context of future negotiations of shared Palestinian and Israeli water resources should be one of optimism. Today, unlike land, it is possible to make water at a relatively modest price. Efforts to protect water quality offer real opportunities for cooperation with shared benefits for both the Israeli and Palestinian economies. Expanded tourism remains one of the greatest dividends which a peace process can produce. Clean water resources surely make visits to the region more attractive and expand the menu of natural and religious sites.
From time to time, foreboding admonitions are heard from academic experts and even leading international spokesmen such as former U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali who warn that the next war in the Middle East will be over water. The present study and cooperative exercise flies in the face of such pessimistic dooms day visions. Even a modest level of dispassionate analysis will lead to practical solutions and compromises. Left to their own devices, neither Israeli nor Palestinian historic management of water resources has been impressive. As a final peace accord forces the two rivals to reach verifiable common commitments, ironically, it is possible that the regions tensions can be directed to ensure better collective performance.
Water can wash away a lot of past problems. When professionals sit together from both sides, solutions appear. There is no reason why politicians cannot reach similar results. All that is needed is expertise, political commitment, wisdom and hope.
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