The convoy will set out in three groups:
· From Tel Aviv: Reading parking lot (next to the bus depot) at 12:00 noon; gathering and preparations will begin at 11:30 am.
· From Ramallah: Al Manara Circle at 12:00 noon
· From Jerusalem: Liberty Bell Park (Gan Ha’Paamon) at 12:00 noon; gathering and preparations will begin at 11:30 am.
Background:
In the villages of Qarawat Bani Zayid, Kufr ‘Ayn, Beit Rima, Deir Ghasane, and Nabi Salah, residents open their taps and there’s no water — not for drinking, not for washing.
During the height of summer, these five villages, having a total population of about 15,000 residents, are allotted a rationed amount of water consisting of 48 liters per person per day — while the consumption per person provided to the Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories and in Israel is FIVE TIMES this amount. To supplement their meager ration, many thirsty village families are forced to buy additional water, paying exorbitant prices of up to 40 NIS per cubic meter. In the past, the Ein ’Aboud spring supplied all the water needs of these villagers: for domestic use, agricultural, and for their livestock.
However, ever since Israel took over this spring, the scarcity of water for the villagers has progressively worsened, while the neighboring settlements enjoy an unlimited abundance of water.
Since 1967, Israel has seized control of most water sources in the West Bank, this serving as one of the more powerful mechanisms used by the Occupation to rule over and repress the Palestinian people. In Israel and the settlements, 2 billion cubic meters of fresh water are consumed annually, while for 2.5 million Palestinians residents of the West Bank, the annual allotment is only 190 million cubic meters.
From the waters of the mountain aquifer, the shared source for Palestine and Israel, 80% are designated for consumption by Israel and the settlements, while only 20% are allocated to the Palestinians. In the Jordan Valley, the situation is even worse, since nearly all of the 32 million cubic meters of water pumped annually are allocated to the Jewish agricultural settlements.
This blatant discrimination in the distribution of water resources, together with additional factors, results in a situation in which very little water is allocated to Palestinian agriculture and industry and, all together, inhibit any significant advancement in the Palestinian economic development.
The ample supply of water for Palestinians’ domestic, public, farming and industry needs is not a “favor” or “charity”. It is a legal and moral obligation, and its violation constitutes a severe breach of international law.
The aim of the water convoy is to create public awareness both in Israel and abroad regarding the equal rights of Palestinians to water.
Tomorrow, Thursday afternoon, August 6th,
a demonstration will be held in front of The Israeli Water Authority, Hamasger Street 14, Tel-Aviv
For more information contact Shai Tel. 052-3727602
Partner organizations in the protest convoy:
Communist Party of Israel, Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), Young Communist League of Israel, Bat Shalom, Gush Shalom, ICAHD, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Alternative Information Center, Yesh Gvul, Combatants for Peace, Meretz, Sadaqa-Reut, Coalition of Women for Peace, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, New Profile, Machsom Watch, Rabbis for Human Rights. Taayush-Arab-Jewish Partnership and others…
With support from:
Palestinian Organizations:
House of Water & Environment, Life Sources, Medical Relief Society, Palestinian Environment NGOs (PENGON), Palestinians Farmer Union, Palestinian Hydrology Group, Palestinian Institute for Water Issues Training, Peasants Union, Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
International Organizations:
International Solidarity Movement, International Woman’s Peace Service,
Michigan Peacemakers Team, CCIPPT-France.
