[Bill Baker]

a.. 3. Domestic Water for West Bank Palestinians has increased by at least 640%
....snip..

this dosnt prove anything--- ya i kno whether or not palis r treated better by arabs or israelis isnt really "provable" in absolute terms, but u dont even touch on the issue.

The issue of water usage in palistine is actually n interesting one though cuz PALISTINE DOES hav a water crisis AND THIS IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE OCCUPATION.

Gaza has a water crisis. Most people in the international community do not know the details as to why it exists and the root causes of the resource deficiency.
For the more than 1.4 million Palestinians who live in Gaza water shortages and water deterioration affects their health. Moreover, the water crisis creates agricultural, economic, social, and political instabilities that have regional ramifications. Most of the existing problems are a direct and indirect result of Israeli policy.
If the resource inequalities are not rectified soon, the Middle East will be facing an irreversible human and environmental disaster.

For the 3.7 million Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank they consume approximately 260-290 MCM/yr; and this figure includes domestic, agricultural and industrial consumption. However, 6.4 million Israelis have a total water consumption of 2,129 MCM/yr.

Since Israel transferred the Israeli settlers out of Gaza and into the West Bank during the Gaza Withdrawal in August 2005 some people may think that problems with violence between Israelis and Palestinians no longer exist in Gaza. However, Palestinians still live under occupation because Israeli forces still control all entry points (checkpoints), borders and border crossings, as well as sea and air space. In essence, Israeli soldiers decide who and what flows in and out of Gaza.

The other dimension of occupation that may not come to mind immediately is the fact that 38 years of occupation left a path of destruction in Gaza. A recent survey by a well-known Palestinian political figure and doctor explains there are “…charred and uprooted palm and fruit trees, acres of fields and dozens of kilometers of roads and infrastructure bulldozed, water mains ploughed out and electric lines torn down.”23 In addition, the tons of sand Israelis removed before leaving the settlements will intensify the sea water intrusion of the aquifer already taking place. Therefore the Gaza Withdrawal caused considerable environmental damage that Palestinians have to take into account when rebuilding the area.
By the way, the 7.9 MCM/yr of water the former Israeli settlers of Gaza were consuming consisted of 4.1 MCM from the aquifer and another 3.8 MCM transported by Mekorot at a subsidized price.24 Palestinians have the opportunity to purchase the 3.8 MCM at 3 NIS (.67 U.S. cents) per cubic meter. How much is the annual cost? The Palestinian Water Authority would have to spend NIS $11.4 M or U.S. $2.6 M for the transport of Mekorot water to Gaza’s borders.
With current, desperate conditions and the violence that has caused severe damage to Palestinian infrastructure why should Palestinians have to pay for a natural resource that should already be available to them?
The next and final section will explore briefly other, viable solutions to Gaza’s water crisis.

Water Crisis in Gaza: How Occupation Affects Palestinians Access to Water

[the followin is from feb 08 - so its very relevant]

Severe drinking water crisis in Gaza; IOF siege continues, prevents entry of materials essential for water treatment


Gaza's drinking water crisis was aggravated in the past three days. In addition to the shortage of water supplies to households, the municipal authorities in the Gaza Strip ran out of materials essential for the treatment of water. Yesterday, the Palestinian Water Authority instructed Gaza's people to boil the water at their homes before using it for cooking or drinking. This includes filtered water, which is widely used in households all over the Strip.

Israel's restrictions on movement, which were tightened since 14 June 2007, caused a shortage in hypochlorite; a substance that is widely used to clean drinking water. As a result, the 52 out of 140 water wells had to stop pumping. Water from these wells is too polluted and cannot be safe for human consumption, even after boiling it.

This comes as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continues to reduce fuel and electrical supplies to Gaza, which disrupts the operation of many water wells, thus affecting the authorities' ability to pump water to the population. People living in high apartment buildings particularly lack water supplies since they depend heavily on energy to pump it to their homes. Certain areas in Gaza did not have any water for days.

IOF's blockade has also disrupted the emergency construction of an alternative sewage treatment plant in north Gaza; an area that lives at the verge of a disaster that could occur at any time. This emergency project is necessary to evade the Bedouin village and the entire north Gaza area a direct threat to their life and wellbeing. One of the existing treatment plant's basin flooded in March 2007, claiming the lives of five people and causing wide-scale destruction to property in the area.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights warns about deterioration of public health and environmental conditions in the Gaza Strip due to the IOF's movement restrictions, which prevents entry of materials necessary for water treatment. Also, the IOF frequently firing at municipal and Water Authority workers, who approach solid waste dumps or the sewage treatment plant project in the east of Jabalia, prevents them from performing works necessary for public health. These problems are exacerbated by the weakened capacity of the health sector in Gaza due to the blockade.

Al Mezan renews its call upon the international community to act effectively to protect the civilian population from imminent threats to their life in Gaza under the Israeli siege. The Israeli measures represent a flagrant form of collective punishment of civilians under occupation in breach of international law.

Al Mezan warns of the consequences of the failure of the international community to uphold its international legal obligations, which would risk the lives of thousands of Palestinians from the unprecedented blockade and the daily acts of killing by IOF.

Press Releases: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Severe drinking water crisis in Gaza; IOF siege continues, prevents entry of materials essential for water treatment

this ones ALSO VERY RELEVANT AND SHOWS THE DIRECT EFFECT OF ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND RESTRICTIONS on the occupied

As a result of Israel’s occupation
of the Golan Heights and its control over
southern Lebanon, Israel controls the headwaters
of the Jordan River. Through the occupation of
the West Bank, and the restrictions on
Palestinians access to their water resources, Israel
controls both the westward-flowing aquifers and
all waters flowing eastward into the Jordan River.
Furthermore, Palestinians are prevented from
fully utilizing the West Bank’s underground
water resources. During the Israeli occupation
period, permission for well drilling must be
obtained from the military authorities. Permits
had been granted for only 23 wells. Rigorous
water quotas are imposed on Palestinians. Supply
is often restricted, leaving communities without
water for considerable periods, and excess
pumping is punished by heavy fines [

http://www.desline.com/articoli/4061.pdf

heres another for good measure:

Environmental degradation threatens to undermine the viability of any future Palestinian state and create conditions that will make life in many parts of the Palestinian Territories impossible. Many environmental problems are accelerated and exacerbated by occupation practices, which prevent effective environmental management. This problem is particularly acute in Gaza in relation to the water resources and the ongoing military conflict.

Palestine - The Water Crisis in Gaza

im only copy/pasting relevant snippets which may not be the best ones to serve my purpose (of displayin the negative effects of israeli occupation and restrictions of pali's water supplies and usage)

i really dont know where u tried to go with the water issue cuz thats one of the biggest hurdles for the pali's right now, and one of the issues that need IMMEDIATE attention. i suspect ISRAEL curb its restrictions in respect to water usage/supply and border restrictions of water sent from UN and other relief org'ns because of INTERNATIONAL pressures

b. Arab responses to Palestinian uprisings are far worse than that of Israel's: Black September in Jordan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ur subsequent points are even weaker than ur former... first thing is a separate incident of civil and political turmoil due to instablity. ISRAELS DONE FAR WORSE TO THE PALIS (not that either arab govt/israeli govt are correct) dont make me repeat the stuff because ZIONIST THUG will cry "broken record" along with cuss words (but still ignore the points all together)

Hama massacre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (not Palestinian, but there is little reason to think that the Syrians would treat Palestinians any different than they did other Sunnis.

come on IG Argumentum Ad Speculum?? u must be having an off day.

ur using an invalid form of hypothetical syllogism....

ur hypothetical example really dosnt show anything at all.

now that i took time out to reply to this post, kindly review thaiboxers, and point out the logical fallacies for us. hopefulyl he will learn from this. if u want, U can stop at a count of 10 .