The Middle East and North Africa - Essay Example

The Middle East is a desert region and thus it receives less than 250 mm of rainfall annually. Israel is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and short winters. The region receives short rains during winter and day temperatures reach a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures and low rainfall indicate that the region depends on underground water for its domestic and industrial water requirements. The state of Israel is approximately 20,700-kilometer square and its inland water constitutes about 445 km2. Inland water includes river Jordan, which has its source in mount Harmon. River Jordan is the main source of fresh water in the region. Other water sources such as the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and Hula marshes have salty water. The region also has a major well where villagers on both Israel and Palestinian sides obtain water for domestic and agricultural use.

Agriculture is significant in the region despite its short rains. Farming in this region is based on irrigation. Thus, water is a factor of national interest to both societies. Israel has attained food stability due to its control of water resources in the region (Eisenzweig, 2000). Water for irrigation constitutes about 70% of water requirements in the region. Israel is also an industrialized country and therefore the country requires water for its industry.

The available water is below the water that is required to sustain the region’s water requirements. Due to water scarcity, Israel needed to secure its water resources from the Palestinian people. In addition, Israel needed to secure its water resources from the population. Israel's occupation of disputed areas such as the West Bank and Gaza strip was a way of protecting the water resources. The occupied territories are the main source of conflicts between the Israelis and the Palestinians. However, the conflict has often been associated with other historical factors.

Water from the main water sources is supplied to the people through pipes or transported by tankers. The Israeli authority has been accused of establishing discriminatory policies that prevent Palestinian communities from receiving sufficient water (Doumani, 2007). Water policies that were developed by the Israeli authority seem to favor the Israeli settlers. The Palestinians respond to this discrimination by launching attacks on Israeli territories. Military organizations such as Hamas were established as a response to the Israeli discriminatory authority. The Palestinians respond to this discrimination by launching attacks on Israeli territories. Military organizations such as Hamas were established as a response to the Israeli discriminatory authority.

In conclusion, water is the main factor that caused the conflicts between the Israelis and the Palestinian. The Middle East is a desert region and therefore the population mainly depends on underground water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. Since the creation of the state of Israel, Israeli officials have been accused of discrimination in distributing water resources in the region leading to the conflicts. Read More