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Carrie Ann Bodley (Middle Eastern Studies major)
“Israeli Water Policies and their Effects on West Bank Palestinians”
Sponsor: Hatem Bazian, Lecturer, Near Eastern Studies
Project Description
Water is crucial to human existence and critical to social and economic development. What happens when this vital resource becomes enmeshed in a violent geo-political struggle? Israel has occupied the West Bank for thirty-seven years, maintaining control over West Bank water resources. Israel's water infrastructure and technology are far more advanced than that of the Palestinians, which would seemingly benefit the latter. However the Palestinians and many in the international community argue otherwise. They argue that these policies are restrictive and prohibit Palestinian socio-economic development. Carrie's project will take her to the West Bank this summer, where she will conduct archival research as well as interview Palestinian water administrators and users and Israeli water authorities. She seeks to examine the costs and benefits associated with Israeli water policies and analyze their effects on socio-economic development within the West Bank.
Scholar's Photo
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Carrie is reflected in "drinking water" in a rooftop water tank in the West Bank, Palestine.
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Scholar's Journal
There are days when I forget that I am living in an area beleaguered with violence and water shortages and then there are days when I can’t forget. As I walked out of my apartment this morning, I descended into the bustling streets of Ram Allah. I was on my way to Jerusalem to interview the director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group. The journey to Jerusalem is roughly 7 kilometers but takes 30 minutes consisting of two bus transfers and two Israeli checkpoints. Daydreaming about my interview questions, I was drawn back to my surroundings by the sound of gunfire coming from a few blocks over. I knew something happened when people began running towards the scene. In Palestine one quickly realizes that people, rather than run from perceived danger, run towards it. As I made my way to Al-Manara, the main circle, I saw that the road leading to where the shots were coming from was completely blocked off by Palestinian security forces. I could not see anything.
Then the gunfire ceased yet people were still standing around discussing possible scenarios. Having been in the area but a few days, I dreamt up thousands of scenarios, yet none of them proved true. As I stood in the crowd talking to people about the situation, ambulances arrived, followed by jeeps full of security forces with their automatic weapons, demanding people clear the way and leave the scene. This was more excitement than I had seen in my life, yet I still had no idea what was going on. Then I spotted an American journalist. To my surprise the journalist was from the San Francisco Chronicle! He filled me in; apparently there was a disagreement between members of the Palestinian National Authority and the security forces, which ended in gunfire. I was comforted by a young man on the street with the words, “Don’t worry, they fire into the air.” “ What a relief!” I thought, then I began to wonder, “where do the bullets go after they reach their apex?” Moments later people began to disperse. I left as well and made my way to my interview.
My interesting day did not end there. After hours of questions and walking around under the brutal desert sun, I could not wait to get home to take a cold shower (as I did not have hot water). After the commute I got home to realize I was out of water! Worst of all, today is Thursday and water does not come until at least Sunday. Soon after I returned, neighbors were knocking on my door to discuss the water situation (since they knew about my research). As we discussed what was to come in the months ahead, I realized just how bad the situation can get. We literally have to check our water every other day to make sure we have enough to last the week. They also suggested that I save a reserve just in case the water doesn’t come. It appears as though I hit the ground running with my own water shortage experience that seemed to create bonds with my neighbors while opening up the line of communication for my research. I never thought that running out of water could be so productive.
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