The Problem of Water in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Essay Example for Free

The Problem of Water in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Essay The promised land is primarily an arid land: Israel has very scarce water resources to ensure its survival. The water issue is a central part of the relationship that Israel maintains with its neighbors. The Middle East is a geographical area that is experiencing what experts have called a state of water stress, that is to say, a structural imbalance between a limited water capital and a consumption in strong growth given its population and pace of economic development. One cannot validly address the water battle in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and more broadly in the context of the crisis in the Middle East, without adressing the effect of a set of epiphenomena guaranteeing peace or war. The water issue has taken a clear geopolitical character in relations between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Tensions have their origin in the large disparity in consumption between the two communities that share the same sources of water. Water is a crucial dimension in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In this region the semi desert climate, where rainfall is absent from April to September with temperatures during the period between 30Â °C and 50Â °C. The issue of water is a critical dimension in the peace process. The water control is what makes the viability and economic power of the Hebrew state. It quickly became the cornerstone of the Zionist strategy from the early twentieth century. One may wonder then what role does water occupy in the culture and religion of the State of Israel. How and to what extent this natural element, is an important cultural and religious symbol in the country’s politics? How could the Hebrew State accept to share more equitably an already scarce resource? From the early twentieth century, Zionist leaders were already aware of the crucial importance of water in a hypothetical state of Israel well before its inception. Chaim Weizman, who became the first president of the Jewish state, imagined in 1919 to include the Litani River, an affluent of the Jordan river within Israeli borders. The border will eventually be established a few kilometers further south, leaving control of the strategic point to Lebanon. In 1953, the young state of Israel embarked on the construction of a huge pipeline from the north of the Sea of Galilee to the Negev desert. But Syria immediately intervenes and prevents it by using canons. The construction site will start over safely in the south. After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Syrian part of the Golan, two strategic objectives for the water supply. The Golan Heights is a natural water reservoir that feeds the lake of Tiberias. Afraid that Syria would divert the rivers that descend into its own territory away from Israel, the Hebrew State has refused to cede the Golan to Syria. It is a fact that for the past 65 years, the Jewish state uses much of the groundwater flowing in its territory. Two-thirds of Israels water needs are provided by the groundwater of the West Bank, which are more exposed to pollution and overfishing. The depletion, combined with the arrival of new migrants, only accentuates the problem. The water potential of the West Bank consists of the surface water of the Jordan River and a few small streamsplus its groundwater regularly regenerated by the rains. Water availability is of great concern for Israel and the Occupied Territories, as it is well below the threshold of 500 cubic meters per year per capita. Withdrawals exceed the availables resources, and there is an overexploitation of groundwaters. Indeed, the groundwaters that benefit from an easy and inexpensive access are often overused, and they may experience significant drawdowns. This causes salinization. When they are in coastal position there is an intrusion of sea water. Operators then only pump salt or brackish water into the shallowest wells. This phenomenon is known in Gaza, Palestine, where the water table is gradually becoming unfit for human consumption. In this alarming context, Israel exploits most of the water leaving the Palestinians to settle for the bare minimum. The greater part of Israel resources was obtained after the creation of Israel in 1948, with the occupation of territories and the appropriating of all supply sources in the region. The occupation of the different territories called occupied is hydro-strategic, as it was of course, a territorial extension, but no matter which one it allowed for an increase in control over water resources in the region. The hydro-strategy can be defined as the art of maneuvering forces to accomplish politics in terms of hydraulic considerations. Israel controls all the water system in the occupied territories of Palestine. It has organized a deliberate unequal sharing of water resources: Israel diverts 75% of water resources from the occupied territories, leaving only 25% to the Palestinians. The average water consumption per capita of an Israeli is 5 times greater than that of a Palestinian. Besides water rationing, the Palestinians are victims of destruction of wells, water pipe and sanitation by the Israeli army. Israel has continued to establish Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. It is a way to be closer to the water reserves, or by diverting them to their advantage. Overexploited wells in Gaza makes water unfit for domestic consumption. Water quotas imposed by Israel make development impossible in the occupied territories endangering the survival of the Palestinians and causes serious health problems. The 26th mission of protection of the Palestinian people, in July 2002 has revealed the destruction of wells, sanitation and water pipes in the Gaza Strip and the Rafah area. Today, two thirds of Israels water needs are provided by resources from outside the 1948 borders: about one third comes from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and one third comes from the Sea of Galilee and the Yarmuk. 5% of the water of the occupied territories is consumed by Israel and its colonies. The population ratio between Israel and the Territories is 2 to 1 and the consumption of water is 11 to 1. Future discussions with the Palestinians will be difficult: they claim 80% of the resources of the West Bank. This would mean a 20% reduction of resources currently available for Israel. The issue of water is of utmost importance in an eventual peace settlement. On the other hand, Israel does not seem to concede some of the resources, and therefore Israel does not enforce many regulations despite their protest. Ignoring the Geneva Conventions, the Israeli government applies to the Occupied Territories a law dating from 1959 making water public property under the control of the state. Indeed, just after the occupation, control of water was given to the military authority which forbade any new water-related infrastructure construction. It then grabbed all water resources in Palestine declaring state ownership. In 1982, the Israeli water company, Mekorot, took control of the Palestinian water resources. Palestinian wells are destroyed and water resources are drained by drilling large-scale samples from deep wells for Israeli use only. Military legislation is introduced and colonization means the strategic maintenance of water resources in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, without which Israel can not grow or survive. Therefore we understand how the control of water and land, inseparable pair, leads the Zionist strategy. Israeli agricultural policy is the very expression of the Zionist ideal of flourishing the desert. Exports are also a way to show to the world that Israel lacks nothing in terms of quality of life, it is bound to be a great ountry, and the immigration of Jews to Israel, considered as a safe haven, may still continue. This is the reason why no Israeli politician can give up on the blue gold of the Occupied Territories. Israel sees as a casus belli any attempt to appropriate water resources by neighboring countries. This is the case for example of Syria which covets a part of Jordan. Today the Gaza Strip returned to the Palestinians is an area that has experienced excessive pumping so that its remai ning water is unfit for consumption (pollution, salinization ). The groundwaters sources take decades to recover. The long-term prospects are alarming because the region lacks water and miss more because resources are limited and demand will only increase, given the high population growth on both sides. The World Bank predicts that by 2040 the demand for Israel, the Occupied Territories and Jordan could rise to 7 billion cubic meters. As of 1994 the Israeli water consumption was 2 billion cubic meters per year. However the local ressources can in theory only ensure 1. 5 billion cubic meters. Clearly the resources of the Jordan River Basin are inadequate. Therefore the solution could be by regional water transfers, hence the interest in Lebanese Litany river, or the costly use of unconventional resources: desalination of sea water, wastewater recycling, etc. However, financial resources are unequal and the Palestinians will not be able to afford to take on these costs. Thus, the prospect of regional cooperation could be a difficult solution to implement, but achievable because this water so rare and valuable will also be greatly missed by Israel if the overexploitation are maintained at this rate.

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There are archetypal patterns in life. They reoccur and become familiar to people through all ages and ethnicities. Throughout history, few literary works have captivated audiences by incorporating these patterns. The epic Beowulf is one literary work that effectively incorporates timeless components. The epic poem relates the tale of Beowulf, a warrior who throughout his life overcomes evils. It has strong elements of Anglo-Saxon elements of bravery, strength and of religious tenets. Beowulf enjoys universal appeal primarily because of its elements of characterization, plot and theme that prove timeless. Beowulf’s portrayal of human nature proves eternal. The protagonist Beowulf brashly lists his accomplishments before entering battle: "But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine†¦ other monsters crowded around me, continually attacking. I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword," (265-294) . His boasts are symbolic of his personal insecurity. Beowulf seems scared of defeat and faliure. His boastful remarks are reminders to himself of his invincibility. Because he is insecure, Beowulf is an accurate representation of human nature. The poem also discloses social behaviors through Welthow, who portrays appropriate submissiveness of a wife. Women in society and position always are hot topics for discussion in any country and time period. She is subservient to her husband and " [pours] a portion from the jeweled cup for each, till [she] had carried the mead-cup among [the guests]," (354-372). Jealousy is a accurately portrayed in the poem. is a human attribute that will apply to any time period anywhere. In the incident with Unferth, for example: "angry that anyone in Denmark or anywhere on earth had ever acquired glory and fame greater than his own"(236-238) tries to belittle Beowulf’s claims to bravery, and, by doing so, adds realistic qualitie s to his character. Belief Divine or supernatural notions are also tendencies of human nature. The poem reflects this ageless concern through references to "that Shepherd of Evil" (432) and "[sacrifices] to the old stone gods" (90). These are both conflicting allusions to the two prominent religions of the time. One pertains to Christian ideology; i.e. "The Almighty God" (493), and "the Almighty making the earth" (8), and the other relates to Anglo Saxon religious beliefs; i.e., "the omens were good" (118) and "fate will unwind as it must," (189). The poem alludes to Christianity, a monotheistic religion that rejects ideas of fate.

The success of A Tale of Two Cities

The art of historical fiction requires from its creator the scrupulosity of selection. This relates to the selection of theme, characters and their roles, pace of narration and time sequence supported by the language embodied into certain literary devices to make a story unique and popular through centuries. This requirement is perfectly achieved by Charles Dickens in his novel A Tale of Two Cities.The success of A Tale of Two Cities can be attributed to Dickens's artful setting of a touching human story against the background of the world-shaking events of the French Revolution, and to the themes related with these events. Among these themes, one of the most important is the theme of sacrifice, as the way to self-fulfillment.An accompanying are the themes of retribution and human loyalty – kind and sympathetic in the case of the Manettes, father and daughter, and Miss Pross; appalling though understandable in the case of Madame Defarge, who can never forget what the Evrà ©mo ndes did to her family. Another theme is the resemblances and parallels Dickens wants us to see between London and Paris. The two cities represent opposed mindsets that are personified by contrasting female characters.Dickens refers first to the London carts and coaches, in which â€Å"pale travellers set out continually on a violent passage into the other world† from the criminal court and prison of Old Bailey (Dickens, ii 2). Later, before he depicts the mob in Paris, he gives us a London crowd, which â€Å"in those times stopped at nothing, and was a monster much dreade† (Dickens, ii 14).Dickens’s most memorable characters tend to be the eccentrics, the droll fellows. In A Tale of Two Cities there are few of these: Miss Pross and Jerry Cruncher are the two most notable. As a contrast to them there is the pushing Stryver; he is not really entertaining.The rest of Dickens’s characters do not hold much of the reader's interest. Thus, Sydney Carton, Charle s Darnay, Lucie Manette, the good Doctor Manette, and Jarvis Lorry all seem relatively normal people, who in other circumstances would not be very interesting.The same might even be true of the Defarges, husband and wife. Had they not had a revolution to fight, their lives might have been routine, and not worth investigating. But in this novel, the driving force is an impersonal one. Its impact on character is felt most strongly when we consider the two principal antagonists: Sydney Carton and Madame Defarge.Sydney Carton is a case of a spoiled man who has somehow lost his nerve and his self-respect and bitterly knows it. He gets the chance to do a noble thing and, in doing it, redeems his wasted life. But, had there been no such opportunity, we must suspect that he would have gone on in his downward track, drinking more and enjoying it less, and at some point being cast off by the now affluent Stryver – the man who has used him to his own great benefit – when he needs him no longer.

Guilt And Regret Essay - 1338 Words

Facing and Handling the Burdens of Pain, Guilt, and Regret Analyzing how guilt and regret stick with one forever not to mention the constant weight of pain, Oedipus and Amir the (main characters) confront guilt, regret, and pain in hopes to relieve themselves from the burdens. Guilt and regret two things everyone should be very familiar with because they tend to co-sign together. However, let’s not forget about pain; it may haunt one forever. After all everyone knows what they did/didn’t do, should ve /shouldn t have done. Even today it still bothers the person, the fact of the matter is it will always bother the person until he/she can forgive themself. Everyone goes through a time in their life where they feel guilty and/or†¦show more content†¦I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he d stood up for me all those times in the past-and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward,† which he will always regret later on. While reading Oedipus Rex, many people notice that it is hard to follow and connect with the play, however, it s very obvious to see Oedipus is filled with guilt, and regret. It is also obvious to notice when someone is dealing with a great amount of pain, which he is. Oedipus is just beginning to face guilt and regret, â€Å"Alas, alas. It’s all come out so clearly. Light, let me see the last of you now, surrounded by those I ought to avoid- born from them, living with them, killing them,† so as one can see Oedipus is truly just starting to feel guilty. Throughout the play one notices important things, like how oedipus feels guilty, but also regretful and painful as it shows here, â€Å"Ah! Ah! How miserable is my life! Where does my pain take me? How does my voice rush about me? O doom, how you’ve pounced!† Oedipus feels guilty because he murdered Laius, Laius, his own father, his own blood and not to mention marrying his own mother, his blood. B y far one of the most important things in the play (or at least that’s what some may believe) is when all the pieces Oedipus is looking for finally start to fall in place, â€Å"Oh, my friend! You are still my only companion, forShow MoreRelatedCollege Essay On General College794 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral College Essay I handled the metal nervously; nervously, my willful negligence deliciously tormenting me. A single bullet, and with it the power to exert my will upon whatever I wished. I had no need for a gun. I wouldnt have been permitted to own one even if I had needed to. The bullet was illicitly sourced from underneath the front porch of a friends old cabin. Though initially ordered by my parents not to keep it, their pleas went unheeded. 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