The Politics of Water in the Middle East: An Israeli Perspective on the Hydro-Political Aspects of the Conflict [Hardcover]

Martin Sherman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312216831 | ISBN-13: 978-0312216832 | Publication Date: January 1999

Will the flames of war in the Middle East be fanned or quenched by water? This is the central question addressed by this unusually forthright book. For, although it is often stressed that water may be a likely focal point of conflict in the Middle East, it is far less frequently acknowledged that implementation of the proposed peace initiatives (the Oslo Accords and calls for Israeli evacuation of the Golan) would inevitably leave almost 70 per cent of Israel's water supply under total Arab control. In the prevailing political milieu of the Middle East, such a situation would hardly augur a future of tranquil stability for Isreal or the region.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MARTIN SHERMAN is Lecturer in Political Science, University of Tel Aviv, Israel. He is Director on the board of several commercial companies and writes frequently in the Israeli press on issues of current interest. Some of his research has been published in journals such as International Journal of Intelligence and Counter Intelligence, Journal of Strategic Studies, Journal to Theoretical Politics and Nations and Nationalism. His previous book, Despots, Democrats and the Determinants of International conflict was published by Macmillan in 1998. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312216831
• ISBN-13: 978-0312216832
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,284,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Political intransigence, October 16, 2006

By 

eric (arlington, va United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Politics of Water in the Middle East: An Israeli Perspective on the Hydro-Political Aspects of the Conflict (Hardcover)

The first five chapters give a short and focused reminder of the current situation of water resources in Israel and around. Something one can find in other books, but this book does it in a concise and clear manner.

Chapters six to ten are a simple propaganda pamphlet, very disappointing. It is not a political debate or analysis, simply a political discourse. The author presents his views and summarily (the word is weak) dismisses anyone who disagrees.

His thesis: Israel needs water, notably from the Golan. And Arab countries cannot be trusted, so Israel has to keep the Golan. The author does not propose any other political/technical solution.

Several solutions (from other sources) are considered and all rejected with the same fallacious argument: without stability, there is no long-term insurance that a water agreement will be respected. And Arab countries are unstable because undemocratic. So let them first become democratic and recognize Israel, and then we will see.

This is very revealing of Israel negotiating stance at present: what is mine is mine, period. What is yours is negotiable.
Well if the other side is equally flexible, peace in the Middle-East will wait a while...


Several sections describe how Palestinians pollute Israeli waters and are bordering outright racism against Arabs (filthy people). Not a word about the appalling situation of water resources in the concentration camp that the Gaza strip is turning into.
Not a word about the sharing of water between Israeli colons and Palestinian farmers in the occupied territories.

Similarly the titles of chapters 8 and 9 are revealing: Separating the facts from fabrication/fantasy can be read as: facts= what Israel says, fabrication/fantasy = what Arabs say.

Definitely a one-sided account. So four stars for the first five chapter, minus three for the rest.

Hopefully I will find other Israeli authors with more balanced views and a better understanding of what negotiations and trade-offs are about.


Interesting to read the back cover comment: "unapologetically harsh conclusions" (this from a former head of Mossad!).


Addendum: a far superior and balanced read is "Water in the Middle-East: a geography of Peace" by Aaron Wolf et al

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Is water capable of extinghuishing the Middle East fire?, March 29, 2000

By 

LT (TA Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Politics of Water in the Middle East: An Israeli Perspective on the Hydro-Political Aspects of the Conflict (Hardcover)

Hydrology is an aspect central to Arab - Israely conflict. This is one thing commonly ignored by Peace and Conflict scholars. The author suggests a valuable reminder of the water determinant in the political equation of the lengthy Middle East conflict. The book is highky actual in these days due to Israel goverment's effort to achieve peace deals with it's neighbours.