The prospects of water sustainability in Gaza, Palestine in light of politics and technical challenges

Resumen

Over the past years, the deterioration of water quality and its long-term adverse effects on social, environmental, and economic systems as a whole has become a global issue of concern. Today policymakers realize that water scarcity is gradually becoming a qualitative problem rather than a quantitative one. In 2015 the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), formally known as "Transforming Our World”. The sixth goal of the sustainable development goals focuses on water, and it aspires to ensure the availability of water and sanitation for all. The targets of this goal include all aspects of health systems for water circulation. Besides, the goal strengthens the focus on water quality and sustainable and healthy management. Furthermore, it profoundly concentrates on vulnerable societal and population growths that suffer from severe water scarcity problems.On the other hand, the implementation of SDGs faces complex challenges in various countries of the world. The difficulty of these challenges is evident in developing countries that suffer from severe shortages of resources. Moreover, achieving sustainable development in countries and regions that suffer from political crises and conflicts over resources and influence is becoming more exigent. Palestine is one of the Middle East countries that faces many challenges in achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the water sector and environmental sustainability. The water scarcity in the country is a result of physical, socioeconomic, and political factors that cause big effects on Palestine's economy. The most important factor that causes this problem is the political situation in Palestine and the conflict with Israel. Through the five chapters, the thesis presents the reality of water in Palestine focusing on the Gaza Strip. It examines the prospects for achieving water sustainability in Gaza and answers a fundamental question at the end: "Is desalination the top sustainable solution to the water crisis in the Gaza Strip?" The thesis also highlights the role of the Israeli occupation in the crisis and shows the catastrophic effects of the occupation in the inability of the Gaza Strip to sustain natural water. One of the original contributions of the research is the survey of the private desalination in the Gaza Strip and presenting its reality, crises, and difficulties that the water sector suffers from.In the first chapter, the research showed the problematic economic reality that Palestine suffers from and the impact of the occupation in creating it. The economic aspect is a fundamental pillar in the concept of Sustainable development on which the other goals are based and closely related. The study indicated the difficulty of achieving development and its objectives in the presence of such an actuality. In the second chapter, the study showed the problematic water situation in Palestine. The intensive study of the history of the water conflPalestinelestine showed the difficulty of achieving water sustainability under the occupation. The analysis also indicated the role of the political and geographical separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in the failure to achieve effective water management.In subsequent chapters 3 and 4, the thesis assessed the private desalination in the Gaza Strip. The results indicated that desalination in Gaza is weak and suffers from massive gaps in various factors, whether quality, profitability, management, and sustainability. Therefore it does not represent a sustainable solution to the water crisis. Chapter 5 indicated the importance of Societal awareness about environmental issues which is an essential pillar for achieving sustainable development. It represents a solid basis for change and government policy-making. The results of the study indicated a weak public awareness and knowledge in the Gaza strip about desalination and its potential dangers to the environment. Accordingly, establishing technical solutions in a society that lacks knowledge about those projects carries a potential threat.In the last part, the thesis presented a general discussion about the water, economic, and development situation in Palestine and answered whether de-salination is the most reliable solution to the water problem in the country. The thesis claimed that desalination is a part of the solution and not the only solution. Finding prospects for sustainable development and SDGs in Palestine begins with ending the occupation, obtaining the Palestinian people's freedom and complete sovereignty over their natural resources, and applying technical solutions appropriate to their circumstances and capabilities. Otherwise, achieving development goals in Palestine in general and in the water sector, in particular, will remain mere wishes in political, scientific conferences and research.