RESOURCE REGIME IN THE GAZA STRIP

The main source of water in the Gaza Strip is the groundwater where its quality and quantity are extremely deteriorated. Municipal water is managed by 25 municipalities. Agricultural water is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Palestinian Water Authority is responsible of developing water policies and strategies. Water as an environmental resource is evaluated by the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority. A case study was carried out on the current situation of the institutional regime of water resources management in the Gaza Strip. The relation between the regime and sustainability was assessed via standard institutional indicators. The study showed that the extent of the present institutional regime doesn’t include all significant users. The internal coherence of governance elements is strong in many aspects. The coherence between problem perception and objectives is high. On the other hand the coherence between designated responsibilities of water departments and their available resources is relatively low. The impact of the institutional regime on the sustainability of water resource use is highly significant, especially the internal coherence of governance, the coherence between governance and property rights of the regime, and the extent of the regime