Amnesty: Israel must allow Palestinians access to adequate water supplies

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Monday March 22, 2010 11:45 by Amnesty International - Ireland - amnesty International

Amnesty International has on World Water Day urged the Israeli authorities to end discriminatory practices against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories that violate their right to adequate water supplies.

Amnesty International has on World Water Day urged the Israeli authorities to end discriminatory practices against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories that violate their right to adequate water supplies.

Many of the Palestinians living in the West Bank and featured in the October 2009 Amnesty International report Troubled Waters – Palestinians Denied Fair Access to Water – face continuing serious Israeli obstacles to accessing water.

"Almost six months after the report, the Israeli government still maintains control over water resources in Occupied Palestinian Territories. Palestinians are allowed only a fraction of the almost unlimited supplies provided to illegal Israeli settlements," said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.

"In many of the cases we highlighted, there has been no tangible improvement on the ground for ordinary people."

Israel imposes a complex system of permits which the Palestinians must obtain from the Israeli army and other authorities in order to carry out water-related projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – anything from digging a well, treating sewage or simply repairing a damaged pipe. Applications for such permits are many times rejected or subject to long delays.

More than 40 years of Israeli military occupation restrictions imposed by Israel on the Palestinians' access to water have also prevented the development of water infrastructure and facilities in the West Bank.

Amnesty Internation's report also highlighted the problems faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where 90-95 per cent of the water is unfit for human consumption. The water and sanitation situation in Gaza continues to be "perilous", according to a report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 17 March.

The Israeli military blockade of Gaza has prevented the entry of materials that are necessary to maintain the water and sanitation infrastructure.

"Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been denied the right to live a normal life, to have adequate food, housing, or health, and to economic development," said Colm O’Gorman.

"Israel must take responsibility for ensuring that Palestinians receive a fair share of the shared water resources."