University of Isfahan Historical Researches 2008-6253 18 2 2026 06 22 The Historical Process of the Zionist Regime's Domination over Palestinian Water Resources The Historical Process of the Zionist Regime's Domination over Palestinian Water Resources 53 69 30461 10.22108/jhr.2026.148296.2907 FA Seyyed Reza Mahdinejad Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Civilization History, Faculty of History, Biography and Islamic Civilization, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran 0000-0002-9828-7120 Ramadan Ali Shirzad PhD Student in Contemporary History of the Islamic World, Department of Islamic Civilization History, Faculty of History, Biography and Islamic Civilization, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran Journal Article 2026 02 08 Abstract Water, land, and manpower constitute the three main pillars of the Zionist regime’s national security. Therefore, since the beginning of the formation of this illegitimate regime, special plans and programs have been on the agenda of this regime to dominate the water resources of Palestine and the surrounding areas, and it has progressed step by step in this direction. In this study, using a descriptive-analytical method, we attempt to answer this question: how and in what historical process did the Zionist regime gain control over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding region? The findings of the study show that Israel’s water dominance over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding area is rooted in the ideology of Zionism, and its preliminaries began with Zionist plans and programs during the Mandate period, expanded and consolidated after the establishment of Israel and the 1948 war with territorial control and property plans and laws, and reached its peak through military laws after the 1967 war. The Oslo Accords of the 1990s not only failed to rectify the existing situation but, on the contrary, institutionalized it in a new legal framework. Finally, from 2000 onwards, the structural discrimination and water apartheid that had been formed in the previous stages became much more widespread. The ultimate goal of this process is to impose increasing restrictions and pressure on the Palestinians and to pave the way for the completion of the Zionist colonial project and the complete occupation of the Palestinian land. Keywords: Palestine, Zionist Regime, Water, Hydropolitics, Hydro-Hegemony, Environmental Colonialism, Water Apartheid. Introduction The Zionist regime has, from the outset, defined the management and control of water as one of the fundamental pillars of its survival and as a tool for expanding its regional hegemony. This policy has been shaped based on several simultaneous layers: first, the ideological and identity layer; second, the legal and structural layer. Alongside these, military and geographical tools have also played a decisive role. At another level, technological and diplomatic capacities have been employed on a regional scale. This process began even before the establishment of the Zionist regime with the formation of Zionist hydro-ideology and has since passed through several stages, progressively augmenting this regime's domination over Palestinian water resources. The main research question of the present study is: How and through what historical-operational process has the Zionist regime established its domination over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding region? A review of the literature indicates that foreign studies have primarily focused on the role of water in Middle East peace negotiations, economic-environmental dimensions, and Israel's internal security. In contrast, a significant portion of domestic works have criticized Israel's water policies and their consequences for regional security and the Islamic world. None of the aforementioned works has examined the historical process and how the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources. The present study attempts to examine and analyze how the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources occurred within a historical process. Materials and Methods The present research has been developed using a descriptive, analytical, and historical approach. In this research, an attempt has been made to use first-hand and reliable sources. Written works and views of Zionist leaders, as well as reliable research conducted in English or Persian in this field, have been the main sources and documents used in this research. Research Findings According to the findings of this study, the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources has occurred in five stages: Preparations for Water Domination (Pre-1948): In this phase, which began after the Balfour Declaration and the beginning of the Mandate period, water was defined as a vital element in Zionist ideology and the borders of occupied Palestine were determined with special attention to water resources. Subsequently, with the support of British colonialism, laws were passed to centralize water ownership by the Mandate government and institutions such as Mekorot (Israel National Water Company) were established to manage and control water resources, and the purchase of land with water resources and the planning of water transfer projects began. Consolidating Ownership Structures and Control over Water Resources (1948 to 1967): After the official establishment of the State of Israel, according to the Partition Resolution of Palestine, the main water resources were placed in the territory of the Jewish state, paving the way for control of vital resources and the foundation of Israel's water supremacy in the following decades. The 1948 war led to fundamental changes in the water map of the region and provided the necessary infrastructure for the concentration of water resources in the hands of the Zionist regime. Subsequently, the government’s ownership and control over water resources were expanded and consolidated with the passage of laws such as the Land Expropriation Law of 1953 and the Water Resources Law of 1959. The implementation of the National North-South Water Transfer Project between 1953 and 1964 was part of a broader Israeli plan to control regional water resources. With the passage of the Water Law of 1959, ownership of all water resources was transferred to the Israeli government, and much stricter restrictions were imposed on the Palestinians. Complete Concentration of Water Resources (1967 to 1993): The 1967 war was a turning point in the completion of Israel’s water dominance project. By occupying the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights, Israel not only expanded its territorial influence but also took complete control of the region’s most important water resources. During this period, Israel, through numerous military decrees, exercised exclusive control over all water resources and projects. At the same time as it developed its water infrastructure, it greatly expanded the exploitation of water resources, putting additional pressure on the Palestinians. Legalizing Inequality and Water Apartheid (1993 to 2000): The Oslo Accords institutionalized existing inequality by establishing a “Joint Water Committee” and Israel’s veto power. The wide gap in per capita water consumption, monopoly control over infrastructure, the water blockade of Gaza, and the sale of water to Palestinians at high prices constitute a “water apartheid” that undermines Palestinian survival and development. Exposing Water Apartheid (2000 to Present): Since the beginning of the 21st century, the water situation in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, has transformed from a structural challenge to a humanitarian disaster. The multi-layered blockade, the environmental crisis, and the use of water technologies as a tool of control have given a new face to Israel’s water dominance, and water apartheid has been revealed in a most gruesome way in occupied Palestine. In summary, this trajectory demonstrates the transformation of water into a strategic tool for consolidating domination over Palestine, altering the demographic fabric, and creating an institutionalized system of discrimination and oppression that has been implemented step by step. Discussion of Results and Conclusions The historical course of the Zionist regime’s domination of Palestinian water resources is a clear example of the expansion of the regime’s occupation and colonization of Palestine. This hegemony, which is rooted in the ideology of Zionism and the thinking of its leaders and pioneers, began with the Zionist plans and programs during the mandate period, was consolidated after the establishment of the regime and the 1948 war, and reached its peak through the martial law after the 1967 war. The Oslo Accords also helped to consolidate and institutionalize this situation through a showy management structure. An analysis of the historical process of the Zionist regime's water dominance shows that this issue has been defined as a cornerstone of Israel's national security from the beginning, and over time, it has transformed from a purely geographical strategy into a multidimensional and institutionalized structure. From the integration of historical and religious narratives, to the hardware development of transmission networks, the military seizure of resources, the legal control of property, and finally the use of advanced technologies, all have advanced towards the consolidation of Israel's water dominance. Israel’s water dominance is one of the main axes of the development and evolution of the occupation of Palestine. By adopting the approach of dominating water resources, the Zionist regime has full control over infrastructure and water allocation policies and has used this tool to consolidate settlements and create structural inequality. The current situation, called water apartheid, has led to a deep gap between Palestinians and Zionists in water consumption. As a result, it has not only changed the amount and method of water consumption, but also the pattern of settlement, agriculture and development in a structural way, leading to the increasing deprivation of Palestinians from water, while the increasing domination of the occupying Zionists over Palestinian water resources. Abstract Water, land, and manpower constitute the three main pillars of the Zionist regime’s national security. Therefore, since the beginning of the formation of this illegitimate regime, special plans and programs have been on the agenda of this regime to dominate the water resources of Palestine and the surrounding areas, and it has progressed step by step in this direction. In this study, using a descriptive-analytical method, we attempt to answer this question: how and in what historical process did the Zionist regime gain control over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding region? The findings of the study show that Israel’s water dominance over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding area is rooted in the ideology of Zionism, and its preliminaries began with Zionist plans and programs during the Mandate period, expanded and consolidated after the establishment of Israel and the 1948 war with territorial control and property plans and laws, and reached its peak through military laws after the 1967 war. The Oslo Accords of the 1990s not only failed to rectify the existing situation but, on the contrary, institutionalized it in a new legal framework. Finally, from 2000 onwards, the structural discrimination and water apartheid that had been formed in the previous stages became much more widespread. The ultimate goal of this process is to impose increasing restrictions and pressure on the Palestinians and to pave the way for the completion of the Zionist colonial project and the complete occupation of the Palestinian land. Keywords: Palestine, Zionist Regime, Water, Hydropolitics, Hydro-Hegemony, Environmental Colonialism, Water Apartheid. Introduction The Zionist regime has, from the outset, defined the management and control of water as one of the fundamental pillars of its survival and as a tool for expanding its regional hegemony. This policy has been shaped based on several simultaneous layers: first, the ideological and identity layer; second, the legal and structural layer. Alongside these, military and geographical tools have also played a decisive role. At another level, technological and diplomatic capacities have been employed on a regional scale. This process began even before the establishment of the Zionist regime with the formation of Zionist hydro-ideology and has since passed through several stages, progressively augmenting this regime's domination over Palestinian water resources. The main research question of the present study is: How and through what historical-operational process has the Zionist regime established its domination over the water resources of Palestine and its surrounding region? A review of the literature indicates that foreign studies have primarily focused on the role of water in Middle East peace negotiations, economic-environmental dimensions, and Israel's internal security. In contrast, a significant portion of domestic works have criticized Israel's water policies and their consequences for regional security and the Islamic world. None of the aforementioned works has examined the historical process and how the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources. The present study attempts to examine and analyze how the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources occurred within a historical process. Materials and Methods The present research has been developed using a descriptive, analytical, and historical approach. In this research, an attempt has been made to use first-hand and reliable sources. Written works and views of Zionist leaders, as well as reliable research conducted in English or Persian in this field, have been the main sources and documents used in this research. Research Findings According to the findings of this study, the Zionist regime's domination over Palestinian water resources has occurred in five stages: Preparations for Water Domination (Pre-1948): In this phase, which began after the Balfour Declaration and the beginning of the Mandate period, water was defined as a vital element in Zionist ideology and the borders of occupied Palestine were determined with special attention to water resources. Subsequently, with the support of British colonialism, laws were passed to centralize water ownership by the Mandate government and institutions such as Mekorot (Israel National Water Company) were established to manage and control water resources, and the purchase of land with water resources and the planning of water transfer projects began. Consolidating Ownership Structures and Control over Water Resources (1948 to 1967): After the official establishment of the State of Israel, according to the Partition Resolution of Palestine, the main water resources were placed in the territory of the Jewish state, paving the way for control of vital resources and the foundation of Israel's water supremacy in the following decades. The 1948 war led to fundamental changes in the water map of the region and provided the necessary infrastructure for the concentration of water resources in the hands of the Zionist regime. Subsequently, the government’s ownership and control over water resources were expanded and consolidated with the passage of laws such as the Land Expropriation Law of 1953 and the Water Resources Law of 1959. The implementation of the National North-South Water Transfer Project between 1953 and 1964 was part of a broader Israeli plan to control regional water resources. With the passage of the Water Law of 1959, ownership of all water resources was transferred to the Israeli government, and much stricter restrictions were imposed on the Palestinians. Complete Concentration of Water Resources (1967 to 1993): The 1967 war was a turning point in the completion of Israel’s water dominance project. By occupying the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights, Israel not only expanded its territorial influence but also took complete control of the region’s most important water resources. During this period, Israel, through numerous military decrees, exercised exclusive control over all water resources and projects. At the same time as it developed its water infrastructure, it greatly expanded the exploitation of water resources, putting additional pressure on the Palestinians. Legalizing Inequality and Water Apartheid (1993 to 2000): The Oslo Accords institutionalized existing inequality by establishing a “Joint Water Committee” and Israel’s veto power. The wide gap in per capita water consumption, monopoly control over infrastructure, the water blockade of Gaza, and the sale of water to Palestinians at high prices constitute a “water apartheid” that undermines Palestinian survival and development. Exposing Water Apartheid (2000 to Present): Since the beginning of the 21st century, the water situation in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, has transformed from a structural challenge to a humanitarian disaster. The multi-layered blockade, the environmental crisis, and the use of water technologies as a tool of control have given a new face to Israel’s water dominance, and water apartheid has been revealed in a most gruesome way in occupied Palestine. In summary, this trajectory demonstrates the transformation of water into a strategic tool for consolidating domination over Palestine, altering the demographic fabric, and creating an institutionalized system of discrimination and oppression that has been implemented step by step. Discussion of Results and Conclusions The historical course of the Zionist regime’s domination of Palestinian water resources is a clear example of the expansion of the regime’s occupation and colonization of Palestine. This hegemony, which is rooted in the ideology of Zionism and the thinking of its leaders and pioneers, began with the Zionist plans and programs during the mandate period, was consolidated after the establishment of the regime and the 1948 war, and reached its peak through the martial law after the 1967 war. The Oslo Accords also helped to consolidate and institutionalize this situation through a showy management structure. An analysis of the historical process of the Zionist regime's water dominance shows that this issue has been defined as a cornerstone of Israel's national security from the beginning, and over time, it has transformed from a purely geographical strategy into a multidimensional and institutionalized structure. From the integration of historical and religious narratives, to the hardware development of transmission networks, the military seizure of resources, the legal control of property, and finally the use of advanced technologies, all have advanced towards the consolidation of Israel's water dominance. Israel’s water dominance is one of the main axes of the development and evolution of the occupation of Palestine. By adopting the approach of dominating water resources, the Zionist regime has full control over infrastructure and water allocation policies and has used this tool to consolidate settlements and create structural inequality. The current situation, called water apartheid, has led to a deep gap between Palestinians and Zionists in water consumption. As a result, it has not only changed the amount and method of water consumption, but also the pattern of settlement, agriculture and development in a structural way, leading to the increasing deprivation of Palestinians from water, while the increasing domination of the occupying Zionists over Palestinian water resources.

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