Water and Peace for the People – Possible solutions to water disputes in the Middle East
By Dr Jon Martin Trondalen
Water and Conflict Resolution Series – UNESCO-IHP
"Water and Peace for the People", released by UNESCO Publishing, proposes practical and objective solutions to the entrenched water conflicts in the Middle East. The author reveals and clarifies the complexity of water conflicts, drawing on years of experience facilitating and chairing water negotiations in the region. Analyzing what is at stake in each situation while releasing new information, the author examines the conflicts in the Upper Jordan River between Israel and Syria around the Golan Heights, between Israel and Lebanon over the Wazzani Spring, and the longstanding water dispute between Palestinians and Israelis. Challenges confronting Turkey, Syria and Iraq in sharing water of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers are also assessed.
© Jon Martin Trondalen - Turkish Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River
Dr. Jon Martin Trondalen is the Chairman of the Compass Foundation, in Geneva, Switzerland. He has 15 years of experience as a facilitator/mediator, and has chaired several bilateral and multilateral negotiations on water disputes in the Middle East; assisted national governments and the United Nations in various capacities related to resolution of environmental and water resource disputes; and trained diplomats, technical delegates and UN staff from various countries.
The publication of this book follows the objective of UNESCO’s PCCP Programme: it facilitates multi-level and interdisciplinary dialogue in order to foster peace, co-operation and development in the management of shared water resources.
© Jon Martin Trondalen - Water supply near the border between Israel and Lebanon
The bottom line of the book is: Unless the countries involved co-operate, the consequences will be devastating. The lack of plentiful and clean water for the people will not only result in severe human suffering, but could also have grave geopolitical consequences.
The book "Water and Peace for the People" was launched on 11 September at 6 p.m. at UNESCO Headquarters.
The book will be published in Arabic and Hebrew later in the fall.
Interview with Dr. Jon Martin Trondalen | Buy the book
