Cooperating over water issues in the Middle East.

It is the nature of nature in the Middle East that, like everything else, all things are political. Even water is laden with politics as raindrops fall either on Jewish or Arab soil. Long before the Israelis described in “Seeking sustainability: Israel's evolving water management strategy” (A. Tal, Special Section: Freshwater Resources, Perspectives, 25 Aug., p. [1081][1]) have a chance to manage water supplies, they must first control the quantity of water that is taken by Palestinians living on the West Bank ([1][2]–[4][3]). Within the scientific community, however, there are some contrasts to the military and political conflicts that are so often the fodder for front-page news. Three examples of teamwork stand out. The first is the award-winning cleanup of the Alexander River ([5][4]), which carries raw sewage from the Palestinian towns of Nablus and Tulkarm across the Green Line demarcating the de facto border between Israel and the Palestinian territories on the West Bank. Israeli and Palestinian planners began working together in 1997 and continued through the worst of the Al Aqsa Intifada (2000–05). Implementation of a master plan to restore the river began in 1998 with removal of pollutants, construction of an “emergency project” to treat raw sewage arriving from the Nablus Stream, and creation of seven river parks with bike and pedestrian paths and streamside picnic areas designed in cooperation with Israeli schoolchildren. ![Figure][5] The Alexander River CREDIT: SHAI GINOTT/CORBIS The second is a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Israeli/Palestinian research project to assess damage and prepare for eventual restoration of water in the Besor/Khalil watershed. The Besor/Khalil's headwaters rise in the West Bank, where it collects the raw sewage of Hebron and the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba before running into Israeli territory. It flows through the northern Negev Desert, gathering yet more sewage, storm water, and agricultural and industrial waste, before becoming the only flowing surface water stream in the Gaza Strip (see also “Running out of water—and time,” J. Bohannon, 25 Aug., p. [1085][6]). Israeli Jewish, Israeli Arab, and Palestinian scientists are preparing a joint quantitative analysis of water quality and watershed impairment from the river's source in the West Bank highlands to its outlet in the Mediterranean ([6][7]). Finally, in a project called Good Water Neighbors spearheaded by Friends of the Earth Middle East, Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians are cooperating to share best practices for water conservation. The cooperation of 17 cross-border communities has illustrated how the interdependent nature of water can create the initial trust that provides the basis for cooperative work ([7][8]). For example, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli mayors have jointly called for policies to rehabilitate the lower Jordan River. 1. 1.[↵][9] 1. S. Schhoenfeld 1. J. Isaac, 2. K. Rishmawi, 3. A. Safar , in Palestinian and Israeli Environmental Narratives, S. Schhoenfeld, Ed. (Centre for International and Security Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2005), pp. 229-245. 2. 2. 1. K. R. Spillman, 2. G. Bachler 1. N. Kliot , in Environmental Crisis: Regional Conflicts and Ways of Cooperation, K. R. Spillman, G. Bachler, Eds. (Center for Security Studies, ETH, Zurich, 1995), pp. 43-56. 3. 3. 1. K. R. Spillman, 2. G. Bachler 1. J. Isaac , in Environmental Crisis: Regional Conflicts and Ways of Cooperation, K. R. Spillman, G. Bachler, Eds. (Center for Security Studies, ETH, Zurich, 1995), pp. 57-74. 4. 4.[↵][10] 1. S. C. Lonergan, 2. D. B. Brooks , Watershed (International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, 1994). 5. 5.[↵][11] 1. E. Pallant , Sierra , p. 18 (May/June 2004). 6. 6.[↵][12] See [www.watsoninstitute.org/meef/english/docs/ResearchBesor\_project\_proposal.pdf][13] for details. 7. 7.[↵][14] 1. T. Lubarr , Good Water Neighbors (Friends of the Earth Middle East, Amman, Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, 2005). [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1126011 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-4 [4]: #ref-5 [5]: pending:yes [6]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.313.5790.1085 [7]: #ref-6 [8]: #ref-7 [9]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1. in text" [10]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4. in text" [11]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5. in text" [12]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6. in text" [13]: http://www.watsoninstitute.org/meef/english/docs/ResearchBesor_project_proposal.pdf [14]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7. in text"