Struggle for water continues in Palestine’s Jordan Valley


Israel seems to be trying to drive Palestinians out of the Jordan Valley by denying them access to water

Fenced-off water spring and pump

Ahmad Melham writes in Al-Monitor:

The Jordan Valley was once considered the breadbasket of Palestine given its rich water resources, fertile soil and climate conditions. Yet today Palestinian farmers struggle to breed sheep and care for their livestock and crops with the little water they get from the Israeli authorities.

Ezzat Rashaida, a 32-year-old farmer from the village of Bardala in the northern Jordan Valley, has to buy three drinking water tanks daily for 150 shekels ($43) for his flock of 300 sheep due to the lack of water allocated by Israel to the village.

“As farmers, we are facing great pressure from Israel, as it controls the amount of water allocated to us, which is not enough for the population. This poses a serious threat to our presence in the area and to our sources of livelihood whether in agriculture or livestock,” Rashaida told Al-Monitor.

The village of Bardala, with a population of 3,000, is an example of Israel’s control of the Palestinian water resources. The Palestinian Water Authority says that while Bardala is located on a large water reservoir, the northeastern water basin, Israel controls more than 85% of its water.

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