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TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENTstill exist deep cleavages between neighbouring nations. However,there are some encouraging signs of cooperation over sharedwaters. There are, in fact, situations where water seems to bethe singular bond between countries that have been historicallyprone to conflict. For example, the Jordan Basin features a peaceagreement between Israel and Jordan that regulates water allocationsstemming from the Jordan River to quite a large extent andeven includes a provision for storing of Jordanian ‘winter water’in Lake Tiberias in Israel for later release during the dry summermonths when the water is needed. Since the signing of the agreementin 1994, there has been a functional relationship – albeitnot always smooth – made possible by the parties’ arrangement toshare water. Alternatively, the distinct power asymmetry betweenIsrael and Palestine has prevented a similar arrangement betweenthose two countries. Since Palestine does not have the same politicalclout regionally or internationally as Jordan, it is all too easyfor Israel to dominate the water situation. Consequently, there isno fully-fledged agreement between them addressing water issues,either quantitatively or qualitatively, in great detail. Although itis noted in current agreements that the Palestinians have ‘waterrights’– those rights are not clearly defined. 18ConclusionsIt has been suggested that regional cooperation over water as ashared resource can be a recipe for wider cooperation. While thismay be the case, it is clear that such an assertion shouldnot be overextended. 19 Phillips and others point outthat the level of securitisation in a river basin is animpediment to a functionalist (cooperation leading tocooperation) approach since the preoccupation of thestates will be on national security, thereby clearly limitingthe room for regional perspectives. 20 This is clearlyevident in places like the Jordan Basin, 21 but also inother regions with a strong security focus. This does notmean that cooperation cannot happen, but the assertionthat this would almost automatically lead to widercooperation is far-fetched.The challenges faced by the international communityare daunting. However, development partnerscan contribute to overcoming these challenges bysupporting the processes of cooperation that underpinsystems of best or ideal practice in transboundary watermanagement. Staying for the long haul is essential tothe achievement of sustainable and effective cooperativeoutcomes. Öjendal and others 22 conclude that, giventhe challenges at hand – compounded by the uncertaintiessurrounding climate change and increasedpopulation growth – it is more relevant than ever todiscuss transboundary water relations as a matter ofcontinuous negotiation.Image: Rami Abdelrahman, SIWI 2013The Jordan River along the Jordan-Israel northern border: there are some encouraging signs of cooperation over shared waters in the Middle East[ 52 ]