In the Middle East, everywhere you look there are disputes over water; whether in Iran, Syria, Iraq or Jordan. Insufficient agricultural yields lead to shortages of basic foodstuffs, which can cause rampant economic crises that will threaten the governments in the region. Armed conflicts have already broken out in the region due to drought and water shortages.
From an Israeli perspective, the whole thing has a worrying prognosis. Israeli environmental and security experts view the situation with increasing concern. This is particularly true of agriculture in the Middle East. Isfahan, Iran’s third largest city, has become the arena for protests against water shortages. The Zayanderud, once the largest river in that region of Iran, has run dry. Tehran does not seem to address the situation.
All Israeli research and studies predict a dangerous drought in the Middle East. The Israeli experts speak of a mega-drought, and this will become increasingly clear in the next few years. Water sources, agriculture and nature in the region will be adversely affected.
For this reason, Israel’s National Security Council has put climate change and impending water scarcity on its strategic agenda. According to Israeli researcher Shira Efron at the Institute for National Security, the drought has already begun: “Water shortages are becoming existential, especially for the Arab countries in our region.”
Source: israeltoday.co.il
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