Karel VEREYCKEN
Executive Summary: The issue of water is crucial in the Middle East, both as a potential source of conflict and an opportunity for regional cooperation. Access to fresh water is vital in this semi-arid region, where rivers such as Jordan, Tiger and Euphrates cross several countries, creating tensions over their sharing. Historically, projects to use these resources for the common benefit have been proposed, as well as attempts to mediate, which have failed because of conflicts between Israel and its neighbours and political differences, which have hampered such initiatives. The discovery of new techniques in the 1960s opened up new possibilities for desalination, but geopolitical tensions persisted. Today, Israel is a global leader in desalination and wastewater recycling technologies, but these advances do not solve the issue of equitable resource sharing. The “Oasis Plan” proposes to desalinate seawater near the Dead Sea, offering a potential solution for Israel, Jordan and Palestine. Regional water cooperation is essential for peace and sustainable development, but requires sustained diplomatic efforts and shared political will.
Keywords: Eau, Proche-Orient, Israël, Palestine, Jordanie, Plan Oasis, Jourdain,
Sustainable development, Regional cooperation, South-West Asia, Desalination, Waste water,
Geopolitics.
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