International Law and Water SecurityMiddle East Domino: Arabs and Water Wars

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between international law and water security as a central issue affecting Arab national security and regional stability in the Middle East. It argues that water is no longer merely a natural resource, but has become an instrument of influence, pressure, and potential conflict, particularly in shared river basins such as the Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates, and Shatt al-Arab. The study addresses the right to water as a human right and links water security to food security, development, environmental protection, and public health.

The research discusses major regional water disputes, including Israeli water policies, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Turkey’s GAP project, and the dispute over Shatt al-Arab and related tributaries. It concludes that addressing water crises requires the effective application of international legal rules governing international watercourses, stronger Arab and regional cooperation, and rational management of water resources in order to reduce escalation risks and ensure equitable use of shared waters.