Reducing the cost of inter- and intrastate conflict over water in the Jordan river basin.

The five riparians of the Jordan river basin share a number of transboundary watercourses. These include the surface waters of the Jordan river itself; several other smaller surface waters; and a number of aquifers. Interstate conflict between the riparians is well documented and has been ongoing for the last 60 years, with tensions over access to fresh waters being considered a significant contributory factor. But much less has been published to date on intrastate conflicts relating to access to the same watercourses, and these are reviewed here. The financial costs of continuing conflicts in the region are documented to far outweigh those pertaining to the resolution of the regional water deficiencies, which would rely on increased levels of desalination and wastewater re-use, plus the possible importation of bulk water supplies from elsewhere. Such a resolution of the water-related conflicts would lead to improved intra and interstate relationships, and could be an important trigger for a much broader peace initiative for the region.