In fact there are six principle sources of the Jordan River from the melting snow of Mount Hermon and the beautiful streams of Dan in the north down to Elisha's well at Jericho, the oldest city on earth which boasts some luxuriant gardens. Herod built a swimming pool there in which he drowned young Jonathan, the High Priest. He also had running tap water and indoor toilets two thousand years ago. Because it is situated some four thousand feet above the level of the Dead Sea to the east, Jerusalem's rainwater runs down through the Judean wilderness to be evaporated by the scorching sun or turned, like Lot's wife, into salt waste. Water everywhere is promise of new life because of the profound unusual symbolism of this element.
Water is a theological issue for the Middle East.
Water is also an issue for continuing life there now, but more particularly in the future as populations expand. In the long past history of the Middle East wars have been fought over land. Any future great conflict will be over water simply because, unless there is a break on the profligate use of water in the Holy Land there will not be sufficient for human survival in the next century. If Christ's church is to remain obedient to his command and continue to proclaim Good News to the world it is my contention his followers must be prepared, as he was, to go down to the gates of hell to confront the evils that beset society in our own age. Above all the most pressing issue is water.