Bluewashing around the USA

This article, written by Nancy Murray of the Alliance, summarizes of some of the efforts to promote Israel's "water solutions" in various states. While the list isn't complete, it does show how water technology is being used to demonstrate that Israel is an indispensable force for good in the world. Is your state on this list?

The Israeli national water company Mekorot is the flagship of Israel’s Apartheid Water practices.  Where it has sought international contracts it has been targeted by (sometimes successful) Stop Mekorot campaigns, including in Argentina, Italy, Greece, Portugal, India, Brazil and the Netherlands.

In the USA, while Mekorot has a presence (see Delaware and Ohio below), the state company is not the sole face of Israel’s water prowess.  Instead, over the past few years, some of Israel’s 300 or so water tech ‘start up’ companies have been ratcheting up efforts to push into US markets, often with the backing of the Israeli government.  Governor-led trade missions to Israel have resulted in agreements to form water partnerships and many joint water and other high tech projects have received funding from the Israel-US Bi-national Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation.  

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Days before an international conference, Amira Hass presents “H2Occupation: Israeli control and commodification of Palestinian water resources.”

Amira Hass ~ Italian Forum of Water Movement's presentation, H2Occupation: Israeli control and commodification of Palestinian water resources. (photo: Cinzia Di Napoli) 

Amira Hass ~ Italian Forum of Water Movement's presentation, H2Occupation: Israeli control and commodification of Palestinian water resources. (photo: Cinzia Di Napoli) 

A large coalition of organizations recently called out Watec, the Israeli water technology conference and exhibition, that was held in Venice in late September. (This comprehensive article deserves to be read!)

Dozens of European trade unions and water movements called on the European Commission (EC) to withdraw patronage from Watec due to participation of companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements. The letter (pdf) noted the EC patronage came “at a time when Israel is cutting off water to Palestinian communities, leaving tens of thousands without access to water during the hottest time of the year.”

Italian-Israeli water conference is showcase for international law violations

Illegal, immoral, and devastating

Another weapon waged against Palestinians:

“The industrial refuse from Israeli factories and the wastewater from the neighboring settlements have increased. Our crops are unsafe to eat and our livestock are threatened. Children are suffering from skin and stomach illnesses. The smell is foul and we have a problem with insects. Most of the dumping of waste is deliberate,” locals complained.