دور المياه في تسوية الصراع العربي – الإسرائيلي بالتركيز على إتفاق أوسلو

Abstract

Water is an important issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The basic hypothesis in this research is that no solution to this conflict could be achieved unless Israel conceded to Arab rights to adequate and satisfactory use of the scarce water resources in the area. To validate this basic hypothesis, the research followed a number of approaches such as the historical, descriptive-analytic and a case study. The case study is concerned with the impact of water resources in Oslo Agreement in facilitating the achievement of a solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict. The research gives a review of water scarce resources in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Water scarcity hinders the implementation of development projects. It is also a major factor in the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel builds settlements in areas known for their rich water resources in the occupied lands and bans natives from using these resources. An important finding is that Oslo Agreement had undermined the role of water as a factor in the escalation of the conflict. The study concludes that in order to achieve a lasting and permanent solution to the conflict there is need to establish a joint Arab-Israeli administration to utilize water resources, agree on combined projects and Israel is to agree to the rights of the Palestinians and other Arab countries in the region for the equal use of the available scarce water resources