COVID-19: An Urgent Need for Cooperation on Water and Wastewater Management in Israel, Jordan and Palestine

May 7, 2020 | EcoPeace Middle East and J Street
online
View Original

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, research has shown strong evidence that the virus survives in our bodily waste -- which raises concerns as to whether the virus can be spread by wastewater. The threat of COVID infection via wastewater makes regional cooperation between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian territory more important than ever. Wastewater in the region remains untreated or poorly treated, left flowing in the environment. Where it is treated, it is then widely reused for agriculture to grow food. In particular, the Jordan Valley and many Palestinian cities have poorly functioning sewage treatment plants, and many villages have only cesspits with no collection or treatment infrastructure. EcoPeace experts join J Stream to discuss this public health threat and why building better water treatment infrastructure should be a key priority for Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian authorities seeking to contain the virus. They will also discuss how establishing regional cooperation on key environmental issues is a critical building block for a long-lasting peace.

All 3 EcoPeace Co-Directors - Gidon Bromberg (Israel), Yana Abu Taleb (Jordan) and Nada Majdalani (Palestine) - will join J Street to discuss this public health threat and why building better water treatment infrastructure should be a key priority for Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian authorities seeking to contain the virus. They will also discuss how establishing regional cooperation on key environmental issues is a critical building block for a long-lasting peace.

When: May 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time