Rainfall in the Middle East has always been an issue. This year, the winter rains in the region have been around 20-25% below average, and that average itself has been in constant retreat for some years.

So when the World Bank issues a report stating that  “Israel extracts 50% more water from the aquifers it shares with the Palestinian authority than it is authorised to do so”, ears prick up.

Double back to a detailed report from the office of the Israeli Water Commissioner. It carefully details the obligations of all sides under the 1993 Oslo Accords, and who has fulfilled what. In brief, Israel has gone way beyond the letter and spirit of the agreements in helping the Palestinians.

It is the Palestinians, who have yet to drill or to operate half the required wells in the Eastern Aquifer. And in the Northern District, they have sunk over 250 illegal wells.

But here’s the killer fact. Over 60% of Palestinian sewage is deliberately not treated. Its run off contaminates into the already precious reserves of water, rivers or lakes.

An internet search will show how loads of NGOs and other pressure groups have sunk tons of resources, research, man-hours, money into deligitimising Israel’s use of water. I personally have had correspondence with such activists over the years. If all that investment had been turned away from hate and ploughed into coexistence, much of the Palestinian water shortage could have been resolved.

How so?

Take Cequesta, a small Israeli company, based just outside Jerusalem. Using environmentally friendly tech, it recycles water from industrial or other use. The systems are not expensive, support the environment and provide a clear solution to populations with water shortages.

Whether it be Cequesta or other solutions, the Palestininas have much to gain from cooperating with the Israelis. They only people to lose out will be those determined to see Israel suffer, whatever the cost to truth.