Israel/Palestine

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts) Fri Jun 12, 2015, 12:25 PM Jun 2015

West Bank village left without drinking water

11 June 2015

Two rainwater cisterns have been destroyed today, leaving a West Bank village without drinking water.

Two days after the High Court of Justice ruled to uphold the military planning system operating in Area C of the West Bank, Palestinians are left without water after the army demolished their two water cisterns. The demolition occurred in Wadi Fukin, west of Bethlehem, where the village relies mainly on agriculture for subsistence and is largely without water infrastructure. Two rainwater collecting cisterns were also essential for irrigation and watering animals. Wadi Fukin is in Area C, where Israel is fully responsible for all aspects of civilian life.

This is an example of the problematic nature of the current military planning system, which lacks representation of Palestinian residents. Two days ago, the High Court rejected a petition which sought to avoid situations such as this by restoring planning powers to the Palestinians. Restoring planning rights to Palestinians would address the lack of infrastructure in Palestinian villages, the blocking of local initiatives for infrastructure development and would effectively end the demolition of hundreds of homes and buildings a year due to the inability to obtain building permits.

http://rhr.org.il/eng/2015/06/west-bank-village-left-without-water-infrastructure/

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

West Bank village left without drinking water (Original Post) Jefferson23 Jun 2015 OP

why don't they have a water infrastructure? Mosby Jun 2015 #1

Because they're broke, mostly due to the occupation but corruption too. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2015 #2

It's due to the apartheid in Area C. Little Tich Jun 2015 #11

a quick Google of "water cistern destroyed by idf" will show that this isn't unusual at all azurnoir Jun 2015 #12

Yup. There seems to be a pattern here. n/t Little Tich Jun 2015 #13

Do you really want to know Mosby ? Israeli Jun 2015 #14

Area C where Wadi Fukin is located is under complete Israeli control, so the question is why won't azurnoir Jun 2015 #3

Because almost every problem is a direct result of the occupation. I hope I made myself clear Jefferson23 Jun 2015 #4

The PA can not build on territory that was placed under temporary Israeli control azurnoir Jun 2015 #5

I have issues with the PA, a great deal, actually....but I don't expect the Israeli government to do Jefferson23 Jun 2015 #6

A lot of the western blogger armchair Palestinian supporters have "issues with the PA" King_David Jun 2015 #7

You self identify as a western armchair blogger, I can see that..thanks for the clarification. n/t Jefferson23 Jun 2015 #8

Nope King_David Jun 2015 #9

care to discuss Israel's choosing not to allow Palestinians in Area C access to potable water? azurnoir Jun 2015 #10

They have more issues with the PA than Hamas. Hmmm. n/t shira Jun 2015 #15

Mosby

(16,358 posts)

1. why don't they have a water infrastructure?

Reply to Jefferson23 (Original post)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 12:49 PM

Jun 2015

If the Palestinians want to form a country why isn't the PA spending money on public utilities?

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

2. Because they're broke, mostly due to the occupation but corruption too. n/t

Reply to Mosby (Reply #1)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 12:54 PM

Jun 2015

Little Tich

(6,171 posts)

11. It's due to the apartheid in Area C.

Reply to Mosby (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 02:30 AM

Jun 2015

The village lies in area C, which is under full Israeli control. There is a system of apartheid there, where the Israeli settlers

have access to all infrastructure, while the Palestinians have no access. The goal of the Israeli administration of the area is to

make living conditions for the Palestinians there so bad that they will have no choice but to leave. To actively destroy the villagers access to water is just a way to force the Palestinians to leave.

NB: this is unusually brutal, even for the IDF, so I hope for their sake that there's more to this story than reported.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)

12. a quick Google of "water cistern destroyed by idf" will show that this isn't unusual at all

Reply to Little Tich (Reply #11)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 02:43 AM

Jun 2015

there are numerous incidents dating back years to the present, it has become more frequent under Bibi's reign, but it's sadly closer to all in a days work, than anything unusual

Little Tich

(6,171 posts)

13. Yup. There seems to be a pattern here. n/t

Reply to azurnoir (Reply #12)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 02:59 AM

Jun 2015

Israeli

(4,159 posts)

14. Do you really want to know Mosby ?

Reply to Mosby (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 13, 2015, 03:15 AM

Jun 2015

Might help you understand if you read this :

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/palestine-water-resources-israel-agreement-resolution-291.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=c4ebbd1ead-April_01_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-c4ebbd1ead-93116505

SUMMARY

Water resources in Palestine are threatened, and in the absence of an outline for a tangible agreement with Israel, the future does not look promising.
AUTHOR
Ahmad Melhem
POSTED
March 31, 2015
TRANSLATOR
Cynthia Milan

My deepest apologies for giving you a Palestinian source ....I hope you wont hold it against me

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)

3. Area C where Wadi Fukin is located is under complete Israeli control, so the question is why won't

Reply to Jefferson23 (Original post)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 01:33 PM

Jun 2015

Israel connect the village to its water system, even if the PA had a system extending into territory placed under temporary Israeli control 21 years ago, would Israel allow it to connect?

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

4. Because almost every problem is a direct result of the occupation. I hope I made myself clear

Reply to azurnoir (Reply #3)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 01:40 PM

Jun 2015

on that in my response to Mosby...I did not mean to suggest the PA could solve this issue
if not for their own corruption and hell no, Israel would not connect.

azurnoir

(45,850 posts)

5. The PA can not build on territory that was placed under temporary Israeli control

Reply to Jefferson23 (Reply #4)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 04:15 PM

Jun 2015

corrupt as they are, even they can not pull that one off

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)

6. I have issues with the PA, a great deal, actually....but I don't expect the Israeli government to do

Reply to azurnoir (Reply #5)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 04:48 PM

Jun 2015

the right thing..their history is telling enough.

snip*AMAN also reviewed the Ministry of Health and its services, which the report characterized as being in a state of regression despite the improved transparency measures. Mention was made about the Water Resources and Energy departments and the corruption from which these two important ministries suffer.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/05/report-corruption-palestine-institutions-gaza.html#ixzz3csoR1ykc

King_David

(14,851 posts)

7. A lot of the western blogger armchair Palestinian supporters have "issues with the PA"

Reply to Jefferson23 (Reply #6)

Fri Jun 12, 2015, 07:12 PM

Jun 2015

These aspiring Palestinian ( want to be) "leaders" have more "issues with the PA" than actual Palestinians born and or living in Palestine.

Mondoweiss or Free Gaza or ISM or If Americans Knew or the now disbanded QuAIA comes to mind.