PARC: Israel wages water war on W. Bankers

WEST BANK, — The Palestinian agricultural relief committee (PARC) said that Israel uses water as a weapon against the native owners of land and water resources in the West Bank exactly as it uses water, food and many vital needs as warfare means against Gaza people.

The PARC explained that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) deprives 16,000 Palestinians living in the villages of Rujeib, Salem, Deir Al-Hatab and Azmut of adequate amounts of water, while it supplies Israeli settlements with abundant amounts.

The committee added that the Israeli water company Mekorot decided to reduce the amounts of water pumped to these villages by 50 percent.

It noted that Israel controls 85 percent of the water aquifer in the West Bank and the amounts of water supplied to Palestinian areas, and imposes huge water bills on the Palestinians.