Oil has come to be synonymous with the ongoing Iraq war as
both sides dig in for control of the world’s second largest
petroleum reserves. But another commodity perhaps more
precious than Oil will play a crucial role in the shape of
things to come after the war in the region. That is water,
Long a source of contention between nations in the
inhospitable terrain of West Asia. Iraq is particularly
fortunate in this regards as two of Asia’s biggest rivers,
The Tigris and Euphrates, run through it. Washington’s
biggest ally in the area, Israel, on the other hand, is
perennially short of fresh water. Israel’s only source of
fresh water, the sea of Galilee, is fed by aquifers from
the gallon heights, a crucial reason why Tel Aviv is loath
to come any agreement with the water level in the Galilee
have been dropping, raising fears of a drought in Israel.
Israel is already in conflict with Lebanon which has
accused it of siphoning off water from the territory and,
of course, The Palestinians who justifiably hold Israel
Guilty of diverting water from aquifers in Palestinian
territory. The Average Israeli uses 275 liters of water a
day, a rate comparable with affluent European countries.
It is nothing for that Israel ha repeatedly warned that the
next war in the area will be over water. Across the region
there are ongoing water disputes and so far little done by
the way of mechanisms to settle them. The Euphrates and
Tigris on whose banks the great Syria, the Kurdish areas
and then into Iraq. If Baghdad were to fall and an
independent Kurdistan were to be formed outside the
influence of Turkey, Tel Aviv is it to buy water from these
rivers at favorable rates. In any event, it will be
Washington which will dictate who gets how much of the
precious commodity. For hardliners in Israel, water is the
key to supporting it expansionists plant and encouraging
more Jews to return to the promised land . So far, the US
has been Silent on water, Confining itself to the volatile
issue of oil. But those who planned this war are in no
doubt that more than destroying supposed weapons of mass
destruction, it is control over oil and water, not
necessarily in that order, that will shape the course of
the future in the troubled region.
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