Techno-political Decision Making for Water Resources Development: The Jordan River Watershed

Discussions on water resources development generally focus on a variety of techn ical options, often without considering the potential political repercussions of each option. This paper incorporates both technical and political considerations in a 'technopolitical' decision-making framework. Water resources developm ent alternatives are then examined to evalu ate their respective priorities for development in Israel, Palestine and Jordan, which are the major riparians of the Jordan River. Particular account is taken of the Middle East peace negotiations, and consequent political changes. Each proposal is designed to provide incentives for sharing resources and benefits among the riparian states.