Jerusalem, August 2002
Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) constitute one geographical
unit, which means that any development, or neglect thereof, in one
entity has an immediate effect on the other. Recognition by both
sides of this simple fact has resulted in an ongoing dialogue between
Israel and the PA concerning environmental issues.
The 2002 report of the Coordination of Activities in Judea, Samaria
(the West Bank) and the Gaza Strip emphasizes that the dialogue on
environmental issues with the Palestinians, on an everyday level, is
very good. The dialogue touches on environmental issues such as toxic
waste, waste disposal, and pest control, and is implemented at the
local level. However, long-term cooperation is totally lacking.
This report will examine various aspects of sustainable development
in the areas under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority,
and the degree of cooperation with Israel in these fields.
Sewage
In the large cities, sewage collection systems exist, but either they
do not include treatment facilities or the facilities are not
functioning. The untreated sewage flows into the streams and seeps
into the groundwater, eventually reaching Israel as well. The sewage
provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease that affects
both sides. In the villages, there is no centralized drainage system,
and the sewage flows into cesspools.
Specifics: The treatment facility in Jenin is not functioning, due to
maintenance problems. The civil administration is providing the
funding for an upgrade of the facility. Most of the work has been
completed, and the neighboring villages will also be able to connect
to it. Kalkilya is connected to a sewage treatment facility in
Israel; however, it sometimes overflows at the point of connection,
in the village of Hableh.
At present, both Tulkarm and Nablus lack sewage treatment facilities,
but there is a plan to build one in Tulkarm, and land has been
allocated in Nablus for that purpose. Ramallah has had a facility
since 1975, but it is inadequate for today's needs.
The treatment facility in El-Bira was built with funds from donor
states and is located in Area C (Israeli civilian and security
control). A-Ram, Bir Nballah and Eljib, north of Jerusalem, are
connected to the Givat Ze'ev sewage system.
Sewage from the city of Hebron flows south into the Hebron River.
There is a possibility that USAID and the Ministry of National
Infrastructures may fund the building of a treatment facility
there.
Sewage from Beit Jalla and western Bethlehem drains into the
Jerusalem treatment system. The sewage of Beit Sahur and eastern
Bethlehem flows into the Kidron River and, together with effluents
from Jerusalem, on to the Dead Sea. Some of the effluents from El
Azaria threaten to contaminate the area's fresh water sources.
A treatment facility is being planned in Nebi Mussa that will be able
to capture wastewater from the Kidron River and purify it. Jericho
and the neighboring villages are connected to septic tanks.
The situation in Gaza is not good - the facilities in the Hanoun
River are not operating; the oxygenation pools of Gaza City were
renovated but the sewage still spills onto the beach. In Rafah, Gaza
and Dir El-Balah, effluents are directed into the sea. International
efforts halted similar Palestinian plans for Beit Lahia.
Solid Waste Disposal
At the beginning of 2000, there were more than 300 unofficial garbage
dumps in Judea and Samaria. The most problematic were garbage dumps
belonging to the large Palestinian cities, which caused environmental
damage covering a radius of dozens of kilometers. As a consequence of
the events of the past two years, the number of "pirate" garbage
dumps has increased. Nablus, for example, dumps most of its solid
wastes into the Bidan streambed.
The garbage dump located in Azoun, which serves the city of Kalkilya,
pollutes the groundwater in the area. Facilities for solid waste
disposal in the Gaza Strip were built next to the seam line, close to
Israeli communities. Dir El-Balah's disposal site was built with
German aid adjacent to Kibbutz Kisufim, in contravention of the
interim agreements.
Toxic Waste
The PA's supervision of factories using toxic materials is extremely
limited, with the result that toxic waste is disposed of together
with regular waste or directed into the rivers. According to the
interim agreements, the PA must transfer toxic waste to the disposal
site at Ramat Hovav, south of Beer Sheba. In spite of repeated
requests from Israel, this has never been done. The Palestinians set
up a toxic waste disposal site with Dutch aid, in contravention of
the agreements, next to Kibbutz Beeri, next to the Green Line. This
site is intended to serve the Gaza Strip alone, and is not
maintained.
The Impact on Israel
The Ministry of the Environment's Report determines and explains the
measures that must be implemented in the Palestinian Authority to
protect the environment:
i. Israel is interested in protecting the health and environment of
its citizens, through maintaining high international standards in the
various environmental spheres.
ii. Israel wishes to preserve the natural scenery, landscape,
ecological systems and biodiversity. By their very nature, these are
phenomena that know no borders.
Israel is affected in every sphere by the Palestinian activity.
Effluents, toxic waste and solid waste in Judea and Samaria endanger
the quality of the groundwater in the common aquifers.
Pollutants directed into the sea in the Gaza strip are transported by
coastal currents towards Israel. The construction of the Gaza Port is
resulting in the interception of longshore sand transport towards
Israel. The industrial areas, quarries, power stations and waste
disposal sites located on the border with Israel are the main source
of air pollutants that damage the air quality in Israel. The
Palestinians have carried out these acts of pollution deliberately,
as part of their "Environmental Intifada".
Nature Reserves
There is almost no correlation between the nature reserves declared
and proposed by Israel and those proposed by the Palestinian
Authority in Judea and Samaria. The Israeli side of the Green Line is
densely forested in contrast to the Palestinian side, which is
sparsely forested. Most of the forested areas are concentrated in the
north of the West Bank. Israel also has a large forest in the south,
in the Yatir region.
Vegetation is occasionally uprooted, as a result of security
concerns. These actions have little or no impact on the nature
reserves, as they only apply to planted groves.
Of particularly grave concern is the Palestinian torching of forests,
carried out on the basis of nationalist motives. Another problem is
the fact that the PA has permitted the trade and hunting of protected
wild animals.
Infrastructures
A power station has been established in Gaza, with US and Swedish
backing. The power station is expected to be fully operational by the
end of 2002. At present, one turbine is generating 24 megawatts of
electricity, in synchronization with the Israel Electric Company. The
operation of the second turbine will be delayed until an operational
agreement is formulated with the Israel Electric Company.
The Toubas-Tayasir electricity connection was established with
Palestinian funding in cooperation with the Israel Electric Company.
The construction of the main electricity line was completed in
December 2001, and the construction of internal electricity networks
is soon expected to be completed in 21 villages.
The Joint Palestinian-Israeli Committee, which has also included
American participation, continues to operate, and it last met on
June 17. The meetings of the Joint Technical Committee continue to
take place, advancing issues relating to water and sewage.
A number of water projects have also been established. A water
conveyance system has been established along with an installation for
the desalination of seawater in Gaza, funded by USAID, with a cost of
$130 million. The feasibility studies and assessments have been
completed, and a tender has been issued for the selection of a
contractor who will begin the work around March 2003. Nevertheless,
the advancement of the project is conditional upon an improvement in
the security situation.
In Judea and Samaria, there are 14 wells designated for drinking and
agriculture, and are operated by an American company. The company
maintains the wells and is in ongoing contact with the Civil
Administration.
Food Supply
A USAID report was recently published describing a difficult
situation of malnutrition, with the situation most acute in the Gaza
Strip. Malnutrition is a situation where food stocks are inadequate,
and the food items are unsuitable for the special needs of the
relevant sectors of the population. Nevertheless, there is no famine
or food shortage.
Information from nutrition surveys in Judea, Samaria and Gaza from
1984 onwards point to a significant improvement in nutrition up until
1995. However, the nutrition situation deteriorated over time, from
1995. In that year, the Palestinian Authority received civil
responsibility for the residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and
therefore it is responsible for the deterioration in the nutrition
situation.
In the last two years, the problem has not been one of food stocks.
Lorries transport food on a regular basis to the cities of Judea,
Samaria and Gaza. The main problem lies in the distribution of the
food among the population. The Palestinian Authority bears the
responsibility for this problem.
Work
Over the years, the territories of Judea, Samaria and Gaza have
existed in symbiosis with Israel. Over a hundred thousand
Palestinians found employment in Israel, and industrial zones were
established in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and plans have
been drawn up for the establishment of industrial estates adjacent to
every city in the Palestinian Authority, with international funding.
Palestinian traders benefited from Israeli customers, and the
entertainment centers in Ramallah and Jericho prospered in an
unprecedented manner.
This ended abruptly with the Palestinian campaign of terrorism at the
end of September 2000. Industrial estates were set alight (Nitzanei
Shalom, next to Tulkarm), Israeli civilians were killed simply for
coming to purchase goods and services or for dining in Palestinian
towns or villages. The wave of terrorism heightened Israeli fears and
concerns, bringing about a rupture between the economies of Israel
and the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian traders and workers have
lost their livelihoods. The efforts to ease the hardship of
Palestinian workers are repeatedly sabotaged as a result of the
Palestinian terrorism. Even now, after 12,000 work permits have been
approved for Palestinians, enabling them to work in Israel, there is
little demand for these work permits. The economic and employment
situation of the Palestinians will only improve, once the terrorism
ends and trust is re-established between Israel and the
Palestinians.
Summary
A number of basic problems adversely affect the situation of
sustainable development in the Palestinian Authority:
- A lack of resources and poor utilization of existing resources.
- Insufficient cooperation with Israel.
- Lack of information, and possibly a lack of concern and apathy
about the issue of the environment.
- Use of development issues and environmental matters in order to
deliberately cause damage to Israel, in the context of the campaign
against Israel.
- Poor maintenance.
This situation causes many difficulties in the Palestinian Authority,
and increases hardship for PA residents, although this is a price
that they appear ready to pay. Moreover, the pictures of suffering
are exploited by the Palestinians in their propaganda campaign
against Israel. The Palestinians can significantly improve their
quality of life, by putting an end to the campaign of terrorism and
violence, as well as through re-establishing trust with Israel. As a
consequence, Israel will also enjoy a similar improvement in its
standard of living.