jfid – Amid the simmering conflict between Israel and Hamas, there is one issue that is often forgotten but vital to Palestinian lives: access to clean water.
Since 1967, Israel has controlled water resources in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and restricted the rights of Palestinians to manage and use water in their own territory.
One of the most controversial and inhumane bans is the ban on collecting rainwater.
Rainwater is a natural, cheap, and environmentally friendly water source.
Rainwater can be collected using tanks, tubs, or wells built on the roof of houses, yards, or fields.
Rainwater can be used for a variety of purposes, such as drinking, bathing, washing, watering plants, or filling fish ponds.
Rainwater can also help reduce reliance on underground water, which is often polluted or reduced by overdrilling.
However, for Palestinians living in the West Bank, collecting rainwater is dangerous and unlawful.
According to Military Order 158 issued by Israel in 1967, all water sources in the West Bank, including rainwater, belong to Israel and must obtain permission from Israeli authorities to be utilized.
These permits are very difficult and expensive to obtain, and are often denied on safety or environmental grounds.
As a result, many Palestinians are forced to collect rainwater discreetly, or rely on water purchased from water vendors who charge high prices.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers living in the West Bank illegally under international law, can enjoy abundant and cheap water from Israel’s national water system.
These settlers often had farms that used intensive irrigation, green gardens, and large swimming pools.
According to a 2017 Amnesty International report, Israeli settlers’ average per capita water consumption in the West Bank is four times greater than the average per capita water consumption of Palestinians.
Israel’s ban on collecting rainwater not only violates human rights, but also harms the environment.
Rainwater that is not collected will flow into rivers or the sea, and can cause flooding, erosion, or pollution.
The collected rainwater can help maintain hydrological balance, save energy, and reduce carbon emissions.
Rainwater can also improve the social, economic, and health well-being of Palestinians, who are currently experiencing a severe water crisis.
Israel’s ban on collecting rainwater is a form of discrimination and oppression against Palestinians, which must be stopped immediately and criticized by the international community.
Rainwater is God’s gift that should be enjoyed by all living things, regardless of religion, race, or ethnicity. Rainwater is a treasure that no one should snatch away.
