Israel: The evolution of water law and policy

Abstract

Israel's water law and its administration warrants scrutiny for its exceptional foresight, depth, and flexibility. The State of Israel was created in 1948 and a decade later the parliament (Knesset) passed four water laws that cover all aspects of water use and reuse. The laws' motif is that water is a national resource, owned by the people and held in trust by the Government for the benefit of the people. This type of legislation could not be passed today as paternalistic approaches have given way to a focus on individual rights and responsibilities. While privatization and long-term planning have changed water administration, the basic legislative infrastructure remains in place today as a comprehensive code worthy of study and imitation. © 2009 Springer Netherlands.