West Bank in grave water crisis: Israeli HR group

ISRAELI human rights group B’Tselem has said the West Bank is facing grave water shortages largely because of Israel’s “discriminatory” policies, BBC reported on Tuesday.

The group criticised the distribution of joint water resources and limits placed by Israel on the Palestinian Authority’s ability to drill new wells.

“It will have serious repercussions on the economy and health,” B’Tselem said.

West Bank per capita water use is about 66 litres a day - just two-thirds of the recommended international minimum.

The accumulated effects of a series of dry years would make matters worse in the months to come, the group added.

Per capita water consumption by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is 3.5 times that of Palestinians, B’Tselem said.

In some parts of the northern West Bank, a largely agricultural area, consumption is far below the overall average, B’Tselem said.