International water law and implications for cooperative Israeli-Palestinian transboundary water management

Inasmuch as the interim agreements between Israel and its neighbors regarding water management are now over 10 years old, it is well to consider their efficacy and adequacy in light of the ongoing evolution of international cooperation in water management. After surveying basic principles of international water law the agreements signed between Israel and its neighbors during the 1990s, cooperative water management is reviewed and contrasted with four cases of international water agreements from around the world. The peace accords provide a surprisingly strong initial normative framework. Yet, there are several areas of cooperation that the next round of negotiations might consider to enhance the institutional and substantive effectiveness of water accords as a basis for ameliorating conflict and ensuring the sustainability of water management in the region.