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overzealous application of fertilizers and pesticides along with the over-extraction of water contribute to the polluting of the springs, streams, and aquifers of both parties. This chronic pollution has led to the decommissioning of many wells and has taken its toll on the limited water resources in Israel and Palestine. The environmental damage serves to exacerbate existing gaps between water supply and demands. Accordingly, joint management frameworks constitute a win-win dynamic and offer an opportunity to enhance the sustainable development and protection of water resources on both sides of the border. Of paramount interest for both sides is the matter of sewage and infrastructure. Wastewater treatment is an essential element in alleviating pollution to Palestinian water resources, improving their quality of life, and expanding the available water for irrigation and stream restoration. But sewage treatment not only is a technical /engineering challenge, but also needs to be addressed in a holistic approach that takes into consideration the institutionalization of wastewater treatment, technologies and system maintenance, and reuse strategies for agriculture, along with promulgation and implementation of regulations. In Israel, beyond continued progress in reducing discharges from factories and municipal sewage systems, nonpoint sources of pollution, especially from agricultural and urban storm runoff, have not been systematically addressed heretofore. Gas stations have also emerged as a major source of groundwater contamination. In short, there is the full menu of water issues that are addressed in the essays of this book. We have tried to put together a volume that is both scientifically precise and accessible to readers who are not hydrologists or scientists working in the field. The importance of cooperation is not uniform for all issues. Some hydrological challenges require complex and politically charged joint management strategies , while for others, coordination in a general sense is sufficient. Yet, none of the Palestinian and Israeli water problems are insurmountable. Political commitment, economic resources, creativity, flexibility, and goodwill are required. Alon Tal Alfred Abed Rabbo April 2010 Preface xv ...

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