Amnesty: Israel denies Palestinians access to water

In some rural communities Palestinians survive on barely 20 litres per day, the minimum amount recommended for domestic use in emergency situations.

Another way to look at the data: In the West Bank, according to Amnesty, the 450,000 Israeli settlers use "as much or more water" than the 2.3 million Palestinians.

The main issue in the West Bank is the so-called Mountain Aquifer. Israel uses 80 percent of the water in the aquifer, according to Amnesty, and routinely refuses to issue permits to Palestinian companies who want to tap into the aquifer.

The report paints an even bleaker picture of the situation in Gaza.

In the Gaza Strip, 90 to 95 per cent of the water from its only water resource, the Coastal Aquifer, is contaminated and unfit for human consumption. Yet, Israel does not allow the transfer of water from the Mountain Aquifer in the West Bank to Gaza.

If you've been following our Goldstone Report coverage, you're familiar with the extensive damage to Gaza's water infrastructure. 500,000 Palestinians had no access to running water during the conflict -- and, according to Amnesty, many still don't have access to enough water.

Israel, needless to say, is denying the report.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev called Amnesty's claims "completely ludicrous"...

[...] He blamed the Palestinians for not investing in development in the West Bank and said they have failed even to drill wells that have already been approved.

Ha'aretz has more on the Israeli reaction, and The Independent has more detail on the report.