[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3777]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         GAZA'S WATER SHORTAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, amidst the troubling picture coming out 
of the Israeli elections, there was some good news from the Middle East 
for a change. The Israeli Government announced that it would double the 
amount of water it sells to Gaza from 5 million to 10 million cubic 
meters annually. This is positive momentum we must build upon because, 
while it is an important step, the quantity is insufficient to prevent 
a humanitarian disaster looming for Gaza and the region.
  The tunnels that were dug by Hamas from Gaza into Israel were not the 
only things underground that should generate public concern. Without 
rapid action, the drinking water beneath Gaza, or the lack thereof, 
poses a threat to the region that is as severe or worse than Hamas' 
tunnels. That is because the coastal aquifer, the only source of 
drinking water for 1.8 million Gazans, is near collapse, as soon as 
2016.
  Like the cities of Los Angeles or Tel Aviv, Gaza cannot currently 
meet its water needs from within its boundaries. That dynamic is 
compounded by the fact that Gaza's population is rapidly increasing and 
now consumes three times the amount of water that is naturally 
replenished from rainwater.
  The massive amount of water withdrawn from the aquifer over the last 
several decades has allowed salty Mediterranean seawater to contaminate 
the drinking water at an ever-increasing rate. A 2012 United Nations 
report said that 90 percent of the coastal aquifer salinity levels were 
too great for drinking purposes. Today that figure is 95 percent. By 
the end of 2016, the entire aquifer will be unfit for human 
consumption. And unless action is taken, by 2020, that damage will be 
irreversible.
  To make matters worse, Gaza does not have large and modern sewage 
treatment plants and operations. The sewage from 1.8 million Gazans 
further pollutes the groundwater and risks the outbreak of pandemic 
diseases like cholera and typhoid. Sewage remains untreated as 90,000 
cubic meters of raw sewage, flows into the Mediterranean every day.
  Israeli intelligence knew about and warned about Hamas' tunnels long 
before they were used, but Israeli politicians chose not to take their 
counsel.
  Environmental and water experts have been warning for many years 
about the imminent collapse of Gaza's coastal aquifer, but too many 
politicians everywhere have failed to respond.
  While we don't want to minimize Israel's important move to authorize 
additional water into Gaza, we shouldn't overstate its impact in 
averting the region's looming water crisis.
  What is going to happen if thousands of Gazans actually rush to the 
fences, trying to get to Egypt or Israel for water? What happens if the 
water crisis broadens the appeal of Hamas' malice in Gaza?
  Look at the recent history in Syria, where the collapse of civil 
order and the civil war was precipitated by persistent drought that 
drove people from the countryside into the city. Such dire outcomes in 
Gaza could be avoided if additional and immediate long-term measures 
were employed.
  Based on the existing infrastructure, Israel has the potential to 
double--overnight--the quantity of water supplied to Gaza. A wastewater 
treatment plant recently built under the management of the World Bank 
in Gaza could reduce by a third the amount of untreated wastewater that 
pollutes both the groundwater and the beaches of Israel and Gaza.
  It is clearly in Israel's interest to facilitate the private-public 
partnerships that lead to greater energy independence and assist the 
Palestinian Water Authority.
  Strengthening the Palestinian Authority by increasing the flow of 
water into Gaza and dealing with the sanitation crisis weakens Hamas 
and highlights their inability to provide public services.
  Last night's election was deeply troubling for the future of Israeli 
politics and a two-state solution, long the policy of the United States 
and, until recently, the leadership of Israel.
  But taking action on water and sanitation is a small, critical, 
important step that everyone can support and will benefit Israelis and 
Palestinians alike. I hope this will be an important focus for those of 
us in Congress as we look at our aid packages going forward.

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