Towards Water Sovereignty: Jordan's Response to the Threats of the Occupying Entity By Ahmad Abdelbaset Rjoub Water Strategies Expert Amid escalating statements from the occupying entity, as recently reported by the Israeli newspaper 'Maariv,' regarding its intention to stop supplying Jordan with the annual 50 million cubic meters of water agreed upon in 2022 for a three-year period (outside the framework of the 1994 peace treaty), complex political dimensions surface, transcending the ongoing technical or pricing debates. This move, while not officially confirmed by the Jordanian government—which has denied receiving any formal notification on the matter—opens the door to a broader interpretation linking the water file to the regional conflict and Jordan's leading role.
Water as a Tool for Political Pressure Observers note that the talk of cutting off water supplies comes within a sensitive regional political context, where tensions are rising due to the ongoing war on Gaza and intensified Zionist military operations in West Bank cities. It appears that the 'occupying entity,' by leaking these threats, is testing the robustness of the peace agreement and exploring its ability to use the 'water card' as leverage to pressure Jordan, which maintains a clear political stance supporting Palestinian rights and acts as a regional stabilizing factor.
However, portraying the cessation of these limited quantities—which constitute only about 9% of the total annual drinking water budget—as capable of creating a water crisis in Jordan is questionable. It seems more like a propaganda campaign aimed at exaggerating vulnerabilities, while reality points to Jordan's ability to weather these usual 'media storms' through ambitious national plans and strategies.
1. National Solutions: Between Sound Management and Strategic Projects These repeated threats reveal the wisdom of the Jordanian vision, which has worked to enhance self-reliance in water security. In addition to the most important strategic project, the National Carrier for the desalination of Red Sea water, which enjoys top priority and direct royal attention to expedite its completion, there is a set of effective solutions that can be enhanced:
2. Reducing Water Loss: Minimizing technical and administrative water loss, which reaches high percentages, is a promising water source. A well-structured plan for rationalizing consumption and improving network efficiency, using smart technologies like smart meters and digital monitoring systems, could save tens of millions of cubic meters annually.
3. Strategic Water Harvesting: An integrated engineering project that could, within a decade:
- Secure 20-25% of the Kingdom's water needs.
- Achieve independence from external pressures.
. Reduce the cost per cubic meter compared to desalinated water.
. Investing in water harvesting is the construction of a permanent national water infrastructure, reducing dependence on external sources and providing a sustainable solution to current and future water challenges.
4. Utilizing Deep Groundwater: The Kingdom possesses deep groundwater wealth in deep aquifers, forming a strategic reserve that can be developed and managed sustainably to support future needs.
5. Maximizing the Use of Treated Water: Enhancing the use of treated wastewater in industrial and landscaping agricultural sectors remains an important option for preserving drinking water.
. Water Sector Governance: The next phase requires strengthening governance by improving the performance of water companies, and perhaps establishing a permanent water resources authority or committee to develop integrated water policies based on broad expert participation.
Conclusion: The Test and Leadership The threat to cut off water is another test of Jordan's resilience and the wisdom of its policies. It reaffirms, once again, that peace agreements must be built on a foundation of mutual respect and constant common interests, not held hostage to political fluctuations and pressures. Jordan, from its historical and leading position, understands that its water security is an integral part of its sovereignty and stability. Through the National Carrier, prudent resource management, and ambitious plans to reduce waste and diversify sources, Jordan is steadily moving towards strengthening its water resilience. The real challenge lies in accelerating the pace of these solutions and transitioning from the planning phase to actual implementation on the ground, to thwart any future attempts to use water as a political weapon. Water is a right, and its management is a trust and a national responsibility.
Finally, I say to the colleagues, the faithful cadres of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation / Water Authority: Through your constant readiness and wise management of our resources, threats are transformed into opportunities and our water sovereignty is built. Your efforts are the true guarantee of our water security and our resilience in the face of any emergency.
Water Strategies Expert
Towards Water Sovereignty: Jordan's Response to the Threats of the Occupying Entity By Ahmad Abdelbaset Rjoub Water Strategies Expert Amid escalating statements from the occupying entity, as recently reported by the Israeli newspaper 'Maariv,' regarding its intention to stop supplying Jordan with the annual 50 million cubic meters of water agreed upon in 2022 for a three-year period (outside the framework of the 1994 peace treaty), complex political dimensions surface, transcending the ongoing technical or pricing debates. This move, while not officially confirmed by the Jordanian government—which has denied receiving any formal notification on the matter—opens the door to a broader interpretation linking the water file to the regional conflict and Jordan's leading role.
Water as a Tool for Political Pressure Observers note that the talk of cutting off water supplies comes within a sensitive regional political context, where tensions are rising due to the ongoing war on Gaza and intensified Zionist military operations in West Bank cities. It appears that the 'occupying entity,' by leaking these threats, is testing the robustness of the peace agreement and exploring its ability to use the 'water card' as leverage to pressure Jordan, which maintains a clear political stance supporting Palestinian rights and acts as a regional stabilizing factor.
However, portraying the cessation of these limited quantities—which constitute only about 9% of the total annual drinking water budget—as capable of creating a water crisis in Jordan is questionable. It seems more like a propaganda campaign aimed at exaggerating vulnerabilities, while reality points to Jordan's ability to weather these usual 'media storms' through ambitious national plans and strategies.
1. National Solutions: Between Sound Management and Strategic Projects These repeated threats reveal the wisdom of the Jordanian vision, which has worked to enhance self-reliance in water security. In addition to the most important strategic project, the National Carrier for the desalination of Red Sea water, which enjoys top priority and direct royal attention to expedite its completion, there is a set of effective solutions that can be enhanced:
2. Reducing Water Loss: Minimizing technical and administrative water loss, which reaches high percentages, is a promising water source. A well-structured plan for rationalizing consumption and improving network efficiency, using smart technologies like smart meters and digital monitoring systems, could save tens of millions of cubic meters annually.
3. Strategic Water Harvesting: An integrated engineering project that could, within a decade:
- Secure 20-25% of the Kingdom's water needs.
- Achieve independence from external pressures.
. Reduce the cost per cubic meter compared to desalinated water.
. Investing in water harvesting is the construction of a permanent national water infrastructure, reducing dependence on external sources and providing a sustainable solution to current and future water challenges.
4. Utilizing Deep Groundwater: The Kingdom possesses deep groundwater wealth in deep aquifers, forming a strategic reserve that can be developed and managed sustainably to support future needs.
5. Maximizing the Use of Treated Water: Enhancing the use of treated wastewater in industrial and landscaping agricultural sectors remains an important option for preserving drinking water.
. Water Sector Governance: The next phase requires strengthening governance by improving the performance of water companies, and perhaps establishing a permanent water resources authority or committee to develop integrated water policies based on broad expert participation.
Conclusion: The Test and Leadership The threat to cut off water is another test of Jordan's resilience and the wisdom of its policies. It reaffirms, once again, that peace agreements must be built on a foundation of mutual respect and constant common interests, not held hostage to political fluctuations and pressures. Jordan, from its historical and leading position, understands that its water security is an integral part of its sovereignty and stability. Through the National Carrier, prudent resource management, and ambitious plans to reduce waste and diversify sources, Jordan is steadily moving towards strengthening its water resilience. The real challenge lies in accelerating the pace of these solutions and transitioning from the planning phase to actual implementation on the ground, to thwart any future attempts to use water as a political weapon. Water is a right, and its management is a trust and a national responsibility.
Finally, I say to the colleagues, the faithful cadres of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation / Water Authority: Through your constant readiness and wise management of our resources, threats are transformed into opportunities and our water sovereignty is built. Your efforts are the true guarantee of our water security and our resilience in the face of any emergency.
Water Strategies Expert
Towards Water Sovereignty: Jordan's Response to the Threats of the Occupying Entity By Ahmad Abdelbaset Rjoub Water Strategies Expert Amid escalating statements from the occupying entity, as recently reported by the Israeli newspaper 'Maariv,' regarding its intention to stop supplying Jordan with the annual 50 million cubic meters of water agreed upon in 2022 for a three-year period (outside the framework of the 1994 peace treaty), complex political dimensions surface, transcending the ongoing technical or pricing debates. This move, while not officially confirmed by the Jordanian government—which has denied receiving any formal notification on the matter—opens the door to a broader interpretation linking the water file to the regional conflict and Jordan's leading role.
Water as a Tool for Political Pressure Observers note that the talk of cutting off water supplies comes within a sensitive regional political context, where tensions are rising due to the ongoing war on Gaza and intensified Zionist military operations in West Bank cities. It appears that the 'occupying entity,' by leaking these threats, is testing the robustness of the peace agreement and exploring its ability to use the 'water card' as leverage to pressure Jordan, which maintains a clear political stance supporting Palestinian rights and acts as a regional stabilizing factor.
However, portraying the cessation of these limited quantities—which constitute only about 9% of the total annual drinking water budget—as capable of creating a water crisis in Jordan is questionable. It seems more like a propaganda campaign aimed at exaggerating vulnerabilities, while reality points to Jordan's ability to weather these usual 'media storms' through ambitious national plans and strategies.
1. National Solutions: Between Sound Management and Strategic Projects These repeated threats reveal the wisdom of the Jordanian vision, which has worked to enhance self-reliance in water security. In addition to the most important strategic project, the National Carrier for the desalination of Red Sea water, which enjoys top priority and direct royal attention to expedite its completion, there is a set of effective solutions that can be enhanced:
2. Reducing Water Loss: Minimizing technical and administrative water loss, which reaches high percentages, is a promising water source. A well-structured plan for rationalizing consumption and improving network efficiency, using smart technologies like smart meters and digital monitoring systems, could save tens of millions of cubic meters annually.
3. Strategic Water Harvesting: An integrated engineering project that could, within a decade:
- Secure 20-25% of the Kingdom's water needs.
- Achieve independence from external pressures.
. Reduce the cost per cubic meter compared to desalinated water.
. Investing in water harvesting is the construction of a permanent national water infrastructure, reducing dependence on external sources and providing a sustainable solution to current and future water challenges.
4. Utilizing Deep Groundwater: The Kingdom possesses deep groundwater wealth in deep aquifers, forming a strategic reserve that can be developed and managed sustainably to support future needs.
5. Maximizing the Use of Treated Water: Enhancing the use of treated wastewater in industrial and landscaping agricultural sectors remains an important option for preserving drinking water.
. Water Sector Governance: The next phase requires strengthening governance by improving the performance of water companies, and perhaps establishing a permanent water resources authority or committee to develop integrated water policies based on broad expert participation.
Conclusion: The Test and Leadership The threat to cut off water is another test of Jordan's resilience and the wisdom of its policies. It reaffirms, once again, that peace agreements must be built on a foundation of mutual respect and constant common interests, not held hostage to political fluctuations and pressures. Jordan, from its historical and leading position, understands that its water security is an integral part of its sovereignty and stability. Through the National Carrier, prudent resource management, and ambitious plans to reduce waste and diversify sources, Jordan is steadily moving towards strengthening its water resilience. The real challenge lies in accelerating the pace of these solutions and transitioning from the planning phase to actual implementation on the ground, to thwart any future attempts to use water as a political weapon. Water is a right, and its management is a trust and a national responsibility.
Finally, I say to the colleagues, the faithful cadres of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation / Water Authority: Through your constant readiness and wise management of our resources, threats are transformed into opportunities and our water sovereignty is built. Your efforts are the true guarantee of our water security and our resilience in the face of any emergency.
Water Strategies Expert
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Towards Water Sovereignty: Jordan's Response to Threats of Occupying Entity
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