January is International Quality of Life Month. Although there are multiple factors that influence a person's quality of life, sufficient access to the basic necessities of life—shelter, food, and water—is critical.
Since less than one-tenth of one percent of the world's water is usable and accessible—a fraction that is decreasing because of climate change—water scarcity is a problem in many places across the globe.
One such place is the Middle East, a densely populated desert region with a phenomenal three percent population growth rate that will compound the scarcity of water in years to come.
In particular, this scarcity has been responsible for conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbors. According to Ariel Sharon, the 1967 war that resulted in Israeli control of all that was once Palestine was caused by concern over water. Syria had attempted three years earlier to reroute water from the Hasbani and Banias rivers away from Israel.
By taking over the West Bank and the Golan Heights, Israel assumed control of the flow of both rivers. Rather than withdrawing its troops from the territories it had occupied as the UN called on Israel to do, Israel instead encouraged thousands of Israeli Jews to move to the territories to build homes and establish communities.
Israel felt doing so gave them added security against further Arab attacks, but it also helped secure these new water sources.
Access to water is a significant point of contention between Palestinians and Israeli Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
The settlers have access to many times the amount of water than do the Palestinians, who get less water than the minimum level specified by the World Health Organization.
Access to water not only hinders relations between Palestinians and Israeli Jewish settlers living in the West Bank, it also is a major sticking point in broader negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.
Learning Activity
Access to water in the Middle East is a significant factor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although it is one that is often overlooked by the news media in favor of more dramatic stories.
Group class members into "reporting teams" composed of researchers, editors, anchors, and (if you have the resources) camera operators.
Have the researchers read the section on water in the Obstacles portion of the Palestinian Territories World Conflicts Today report. For further background, they may also refer to Amnesty International's October 2009 report on water in the Palestinian Territories.
Once the researchers have compiled key facts and statistics, have them collaborate with the editors to craft a concise, interesting news story about the role water plays in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Allow time for each news anchor to deliver the story—in person or on video—to the class.
After all the presentations, hold a class discussion about the difficulty of turning "quality of life" issues into news stories.
To enrich this activity, identify for the class local conflicts over access to water or other natural resources and have each reporting team research and present a story in an alternative medium, such as a blog.
