EcoPeace has undertaken this report with the aim to highlight the importance of a healthy Jordan River for the economic benefits of the West Bank, and to foster Palestinian political and public support for the rehabilitation of this historical river. Six development options are highlighted within the paper, and each option could be considered as one piece of a larger plan towards the sustainable development of the Palestinian economy. This report takes as its starting point the necessity of securing fair access and equitable allocation of freshwater resources for the development of the Palestine economy.

This report provides an analysis of opportunities to conserve freshwater within Israel. It estimates the water savings from a range of different policies. The study primarily addresses demand management measures, as these have already been identified as representing the cheapest, technologically easiest, and most environmentally beneficial means of living within a strict water budget. The study concludes that over 690 million cubic meters (mcm) of freshwater per year could potentially be available for conservation efforts. Of this, over 500 mcm can potentially be conserved at costs less than the marginal cost of water, i.e., the cost of desalination. An additional 150+ mcm of water per year can be conserved with current technology, but at costs that make it uncompetitive with desalination. Implementing the cost-effective measures would make unnecessary three large desalination plants, or alternatively, would free up water that could be returned to the natural flows of rivers. This amount represents nearly half of the natural flow of the Lower Jordan River.