Israel leaves inhabitants of the West bank thirsty
Reageer (0)Join us in protest against shortage caused by the occupation
WATER CONVOY TO THE PALESTINIAN VILLAGE
QARAWAT BANI ZAYID, RAMALLAH DISTRICT
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7th 2009 AT 13:00 (P.M.)
Jointly organized with the village council and Palestinian and international organizations, we shall travel with a water convoy to the village on Friday, August 7th as an act of solidarity with the villagers and in protest of the severe water shortage suffered by the villages of Qarawat Bani Zatyid , Kufr `Ayn, Beit Rima, Deir Ghasane, and Nabi Salah.
The convoy will include water tankers, buses and private vehicles.
It will head out in three sections:
From Tel Aviv: Reading parking lot (next to the bus depot) at 12:00 noon
From Ramallah: Al Manara Circle at 12:00 noon
From Jerusalem: Liberty Bell Park (Gan Ha`Paamon) at 12:00 noon
Registration:Tel-Aviv- Ya`acov- 050-5733276. Yuval-050-7336117.
Ramallah- Susan-059-8318346. Jerusalem- Moly- 052-3353992.
Some background:
In the villages of Qarawat Bani Zayid, Kufr `Ayn, Beit Rima, Deir Ghasane, and Nabi Salah the taps have been running dry- no water for drinking, for washing, for livestock or agriculture. Many Palestinians in this area have not had water from their taps since March 15.
The villages, situated north-west of Ramallah, are inhabited by about 15,000 people, who at the height of the scorching summer season, receive a rationed amount of water amounting to 48 liters a day per person –less then the average consumed by Palestinians, (66 liters a day per person), and ONE FIFTH of the average provided to the Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories and in Israel (235 liters a day).
To supplement this amount, the villagers are forced to purchase water from tankers who make the rounds of the villages, and pay exorbitant prices of up to 40 NIS per cubic meter, ten-fold the price paid for water supplied through the piped water distribution net work in the village.
In the winter, the water ration for the villages stood at 60-70 cubic meters per hour, and now, at the height of summer, it has been cut down to only 30 cubic meters an hour.
In the past, the villagers had drawn their water from `Aboud spring which amply supplied all of their domestic, herding and farmer needs.
Mekorot- Israel National Water co. as created its own infrastructure at this spring and only allows a small portion of its water to arrive to village. Now there is no water for farming, livestock are dwindling, the Palestinians themselves have a bare minimum for their own use, while their settler-neighbors behind the fences and walls enjoy a bountiful supply.
Since the Occupation in occupation in 1967, Israel has taken control over most water sources in the West Bank, and uses it mostly for Israeli clients including settlers.
The mountain aquifer, with its yearly yield of 600 million cubic meters, is considered a joint(Palestinian-Israeli) reservoir of which Israel is permitted to use – but certainly not in present proportions, as 80% of the water is taken for Israeli consumption while 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank receive merely the remaining 20%,
(according Palestinian sources it`s 84/16%). In the Jordan Valley, Israel draws 32 million cubic meters of water a year primarily mostly for export agricultural products, while total Palestinian domestic, industrial and agricultural consumption for the whole West Bank is limited to 190 million cubic meters and many Palestinians communities in the Jordan Valley are made to go without.
Furthermore, 227,500 people living in 220 villages are not even connected to the water supply grid. Another 190,000 enjoy only a partial supply of running water.
The ample supply of water for Palestinians` domestic, public, farming and industry needs is not a `favor`. It is a lawful and moral duty, and its violation constitutes a severe breach of international law. The Purpose of the water convoy is to create awareness in Israel and abroad to the Palestinians water
In the coming months we shall hold an information and protest campaign both in
Israel and abroad
Thursday, August 6th, noon
A demonstration will be held in front of The Israeli Water Authority
Tel-Aviv, Hamasger 14
For more information contact Shai Tel. 052-3727602
Partner organizations in the protest convoy:
Humans Without Borders, Anarchists Against Walls, Young Communist League of Israel, Bat Shalom, Gush Shalom, ICAHD, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Alternative Information Center, Hadash Party, Yesh Gvul, Combatants for Peace, Communist Party of Israel, Meretz Party, Sadaqa-Reut, Coalition of Women for Peace, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, New Profile, Machsom Watch, Rabbis for Human Rights. Taayush-Arab-Jewish Partnership, Tarabut-Hithabrut.
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.
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