Social Justice and Water Policy in an Era of Climate Change: A case study of Israel/Palestine water relations

Abstract

This paper is a product of concerns for social justice for Palestinians, particularly in their needs and rights to freshwater in Israel/Palestine. This must be approached in relation to colonialism and water rights, as these cannot be divorced from social justice. First, the existing freshwater resources in Israel/Palestine need to be examined, along with how they might change in the future. This will create an understanding as to where water is located and how climate change might influence water resources in the future. Next, examining how geopolitical struggles have been formed is important to showing the differences between the Israelis and Palestinians, particularly in the colonial past of Israel/Palestine. These geopolitical struggles, seen as a type of colonialism, can be examined through existing water policies and water usage. Finally, with this colonial present in Israel, it is important to attempt to look at all sides fairly. Even with these struggles over territory, whether or not Israelis and Palestinians can come to a peaceful solution regarding Palestinian independence, the human right to and the need for water must be considered. Therefore, the ways of thinking about solutions need to be examined to protect these rights and needs. This kind of analysis can then be applied to other conflicts over freshwater – a matter of importance in the era of climate change.