Water for Peace Revisited: Reconsidering the Role of Securitization in Water Cooperation

Abstract

This chapter identifies the elements that create a political and social environment conducive to water cooperation, using the case study of the Water for Peace (WfP) initiative by Türkiye and Israel in the early 2000s. The chapter is based on a historical analysis of the evolution of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as secondary climate and water data to support the analysis. Water for Peace was an unsuccessful initiative that aimed to start collaboration on water between Türkiye and Israel, resting on the idea of using water for the de-escalation of tensions in the region by supplying water from Türkiye. This case shows how failing to involve civil society and particularly the business community undermines state-level efforts to tackle regional water-related challenges. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.