Palestinians living in the northern West Bank region have a new challenge at hand this Ramadan with Israel frequently turning off water supplies to these areas. As a result, tens of thousands of Palestinians are in desperate need of water and becoming dependent on water tanks, which come at an additional expenditure of 250 shekels (approximately SR230). According to a Gulf News report report, Israel's national water company, Mekorot, has either reduced or cut off supplies to major areas of the northern West Bank to prioritize supplies to Israeli colonies. The disruption, which has been going on since the beginning of Ramadan, is causing distress to Palestinians in the area. According to the report, Mekorot cut off water supplies to the entire governorate of Jenin, several Nablus villages, the city of Salfit and surrounding villages. The company operates all West Bank water wells and has reportedly taken the decision without prior notice. "Residents suffer badly in this hot weather and at this time of Ramadan," Jenin Mayor Ragheb Alhaj Hassan was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "Israel and Israel only is responsible for the water cuts as agreements signed with Israel clearly state that Mekorot should provide the northern areas of the West Bank with their needs of water," Mayor Alhaj Hassan said. The matter has been brought to the attention of the Palestinian Water Authority, which is supposed to take up the matter with Mekorot. "Water cuts are becoming routine, but in the past they used to alert us. Now, the Palestinians are being kept in the dark," said the mayor. — Al Arabiya News
