Stream restoration as a basis for Israeli-Palestinian cooperation: A comparative analysis of two transboundary streams

Abstract

Transboundary environmental degradation often poses serious health and security threats to regional residents. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict further aggravates an environment already characterized by water scarcity, environmental distress and polluted waterways. Yet, common ground appears to emerge from a recent contingent valuation study in which both Israelis and Palestinians reveal common water use and riparian restoration preferences, as well as comparable willingness to pay for proposed restoration efforts. These surprising results - especially that despite vast economic hindrances, Palestinians have revealed similar willingness to contribute financially to stream restoration - indicate the seriousness of regional health issues and demonstrate a foundation for future cooperative restoration efforts. A simple cost-benefit analysis is conducted, which sheds light on future policy formation, especially with regard to water treatment and allocation decisions for both societies. © 2010 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.