Groundwater allocation in Judea and Samaria

This paper analyzes the rights of Israel and of the Palestinians to the waters of the Mountain Aquifer, the major water resource shared by the two communities. As one of the possible peaceful solutions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the establishment of a Palestinian entity, international law, as well as precedents from various international drainage basins, becomes relevant. They form the background for the application of hydrological and other natural aspects, in an effort to provide a framework for equitable and reasonable utilization and management of the aquifer. Based on analysis of international law (Benvenisti, 1993, these proceedings), this paper quantifies both parties' water rights in the Mountain Aquifer.