Identification of Joint Management Structures for Shared Aquifers: A Cooperative Palestinian-Israeli Effort (World Bank Technical Papers)

Overcoming the scarcity and temporal variance of water availability in semi-arid regions, or the excess of water in temperate regions, often requires cooperation. This paper describes the approach taken by an Israeli-Palestinian team to identify joint management structures for the aquifers shared by these two parties, and some of the lessons learned from the experience of this team. This study analyzes the mechanisms for identifying possible crossboundary groundwater management regimes, and provides an approach for building joint management institutions. On the basis of a five-year cooperative project by Palestinian and Israeli researchers, the study first describes the process by which the joint management institutions were identified. Two levels are described: first, the course selected by the team, and secondly, the analytical approach taken in the identification of the structures. A description of the outcome of the first phase follows, namely a flexible-sequential capacity building structure. The second phase focuses on the scrutiny of this structure, taking into account the geopolitical changes in the region. A number of issues and problems were identified, which may adversely affect the implementation of joint management structures. A brief discussion of the process and outcomes of this research finalizes the study, with particular attention, from the local Israeli-Palestinian perspective, to the possible role and limitations of international organizations in this process. Eran Feitelson, Marwan Haddad. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 27-28).