Brighton-Tubas Region Friendship and Solidarity Group

Since 1967 the occupation forces have implemented a series of policies to create extreme water shortages for Palestinians. In 1967 alone Palestinians lost access to the River Jordan and 162 agricultural wells when the border area was fenced off.

Israel’s Control of Jordan Valley Water Resources:

• Digging of wells by Palestinians is forbidden
• Occupation wells are dug by Israeli company, Mekarot
• Palestinians do not receive their share of water from the Jordan River
• Areas of land with rich water resources have been designated closed military zones.
• Israel deliberately builds wells close to Palestinian springs. Israeli wells are dug deeper than Palestinian wells so the water drains out of the Palestinian reserves.
• While Jewish settlers benefit from huge discounts on water, Palestinians are increasingly being forced to buy water from Israeli companies such as Mekarot, 'steal' it from Israeli water tanks, or use waste water from settlements.
• Irrigation of what little land Palestinians can still farm is almost impossible.