Nakba environnementale

This report by Friends of the Earth International details ecological injustices and environmental violations committed by Israeli occupants in Palestine, specifically within the West Bank. The authors argue that environmental destruction—including water theft, toxic waste dumping, and the misuse of nature reserves—is an integral part of a broader project of colonization and ethnic cleansing, which they term an "ecological Nakba."

• The report describes a systemic dispossession of land and water resources in the West Bank. The construction of the separation wall has resulted in the loss of 8.5% of land in a "closed zone" and the potential loss of 75% of available water from the strategic western aquifer for Palestinians.
• There is a severe disparity in water access and consumption between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. In the village of Om Elkheir, settlers consume 300 liters per person per day, while Palestinians consume only 15 liters. Across the West Bank, Palestinians average 73 liters per person per day, below the WHO recommendation of 100 liters, while Israelis use 300 liters and settlers use 369 liters.
• Israel is accused of using the West Bank as a site for unregulated waste disposal. In Qalqilya, a waste mound created from 20 years of unregulated industrial and chemical dumping has contaminated water with lead and 17 toxic chemical agents, which the report links to high levels of cancer and gynecological anomalies in the villages of Jayyous and Azzun.
• The report highlights the use of wastewater as a political tool. The settlement of Ariel discharges untreated sewage and industrial effluents into Palestinian agricultural lands, rendering them unusable and thus easier to confiscate under "unused land" rules. Furthermore, Palestinians are prohibited from developing their own wastewater treatment systems unless they also treat the sewage of neighboring Israeli settlements.
• Industrial zones in the West Bank, such as Nitzanei Shalom near Tulkarem, are described as areas where Israeli companies can pollute with impunity due to a lack of Palestinian authority and oversight. The report notes that the Geshouri plant relocated there after facing pollution lawsuits in Israel.
• The designation of "nature reserves" is characterized as "greenwashing" for ethnic cleansing. In Wadi Qana, the area was declared a nature reserve after being a military zone, which prohibited Palestinians from cultivating their land while allowing Israeli settlers to establish colonies, extract water, and dump sewage.

APA

Al Butmah, A., Peek, B., & Scandrett, E. (2013). Nakba environnementale. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/04-FoEI-Nakba-report-FR-mr.pdf

Chicago

Al Butmah, Abeer, Bobby Peek, and Eurig Scandrett. Nakba environnementale. Friends of the Earth International, 2013. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/04-FoEI-Nakba-report-FR-mr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Al Butmah |first1=Abeer |last2=Peek |first2=Bobby |last3=Scandrett |first3=Eurig |title=Nakba environnementale |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=September 2013 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/04-FoEI-Nakba-report-FR-mr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{albutmah2013nakba, author = {Al Butmah, Abeer and Peek, Bobby and Scandrett, Eurig}, title = {{Nakba environnementale}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2013}, month = sep, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/04-FoEI-Nakba-report-FR-mr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }