![]() ![]() After long negotiations to seek an agreement on water allocation amongst all the co-riparian states to the Jordan system, the process failed in 1955 (Haddadin, 2000). ![]() ![]() These unilateral developments caused skirmishes amongst the co-riparians, which led the US to send a mediator to the region. Unilateral water development projects escalate the conflict Whilst Jordan announced plans to divert the Yarmouk river for irrigation purposes, through the construction of the East Ghor Canal, Israel began the construction of a National Water Carrier to transport the water of the Sea of Galilee to its arid South (FAO, 2009). Following the 1948 war which opposed Israel and its Arab neighbours, all co-riparians to the Jordan River system started unilateral water-development plans. As for the Yarmouk, it originates in Syria and forms the border between Jordan and Israel, before joining the Jordan River downstream to the Sea of Galilee. The Jordan River flows downstream through Israel where it forms the border with Jordan South of the Sea of Galilee. Jordan and Israel are both tributaries to the Jordan and the Yarmouk River – rivers which are part of the Jordan River system. Even though some factors still prevent both countries from implementing all water clauses of the 1994 agreement, the co-riparians deepened their cooperation over water in early 2015 with an agreement to jointly build a “peace canal” – a project which the co-riparians had been discussing in recent years (Farooq, 2010) -, which will provide water both to Jordan and to Israel. Yet the failed agreement later helped pave the way to a bilateral peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, which was signed in 1994 (see Yarmouk River: Agreement between Syria and Jordan). Israel, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. US mediator Johnston failed in his attempts during the 1950s to broker a multilateral agreement on water amongst all the co-riparians of the Jordan system, i.e. In this region where most of the rivers are shared between two or more states, the continuous tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours since 1948 have been an obstacle to cooperation over water. This is not a history of the violent conflicts nor is it meant to imply that these conflicts were caused by environmental factors. Note: This case is focused on the cooperative aspects of the water management relationship, with the generally difficult relations as a context factor. Reduced State Capacity and/or Legitimacy Tensions between states that may but need not escalate into overt violent conflict. Increased Land Scarcity Reduced capacity of the state to fulfil basic functions deemed necessary by the population and/or reduced public support for state authorities. Livelihood Insecurity Reduced, availability of/ access to land. Change in Access / Availability of Natural Resources A threat or destruction of livelihoods dependent on the availability of environmental resources / goods. ![]() Land Use Change Reduced availability of essential natural resources, such as land and water. Infrastructure Development A, change in the usage of environmentally relevant land. Pollution / Environmental Degradation Construction of major infrastructure, such as dams, canals or roads. Economic Development Pollution, and degradation of ecosystems, such as coral reefs. Increased Water Scarcity A broad concept to cover economic growth in general but also specific economic changes or changes of incentives. Gradual Change in Temperature and/or Precipitation An increase in the scarcity of clean water and/or an increased variability in water supply. A slow change in climatic conditions, particularly temperature and precipitation. Livelihood insecurity leads to interstate tensions. Reduced capacity and/or legitimacy of the state leads to interstate tensions. Reduced availability of/access to natural resources leads to tensions between states. Reduced availability of/access to natural resources undermines state capacity. Land scarcity undermines the livelihoods of agricultural producers. Land scarcity hampers agricultural production. Changes in land use reduce available/usable freshwater. Changes in land use reduce available/usable land. Water scarcity undermines water-dependent livelihoods. Freshwater becomes scarce as an essential resource. Infrastructure development facilitates land use changes. Infrastructure development changes the allocation of water. Climate Change Environmental Change Fragility and Conflict Risks Intermediary Mechanisms Social and Economic Drivers Changing climate leads to decreased water availability. ![]()
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