In the Middle East, as in many parts of the world, the climate crisis is not a future threat—it is a daily reality. Yet, while politics and ideology tend to divide, water demands an clear response: cooperation.
Mekorot has proven that water management does not begin and end with technology, but with a holistic framework. By integrating all water sources—desalination, recycled wastewater, groundwater, and surface water—into a single national grid, we turned natural scarcity into national resilience.
The critical importance of this integrated system was demonstrated at full strength just this past month. When an unprecedented algal bloom temporarily shut down major Mediterranean desalination facilities, Mekorot's nationwide grid rerouted supply in real time using alternative wells and reservoirs. The public barely noticed a difference. The global lesson is clear: desalination is an exceptional solution, but without system redundancy and intelligent centralized management, it creates a dangerous vulnerability.
This operational expertise forms the core of Mekorot’s expanding global presence. From leak detection and engineering consultancy to master planning, we export actionable operational know-how across Latin America, Europe, Central Asia, India and more.
Furthermore, our capacity to supply high-quality, continuous water to our neighbors and build regional partnerships serves as a vital stabilizing force in the Middle East. It establishes a framework of positive mutual interdependence—anchored in physical infrastructure rather than just words.
Looking to the next decade, the key to addressing the global water crisis lies in multilateral partnerships that connect Mekorot’s operational expertise with both the private and governmental sectors. Together, we can transform water from a flashpoint of conflict into a catalyst for regional stability, development, and growth.
- Regional Water Diplomacy
"In the Middle East, water is often a point of friction, but it is also a powerful lever for cooperation. How can Mekorot’s capabilities—from supplying water to neighbors to regional agreements like those signed in the Gulf—serve as a bridge to stabilize the region and build 'positive interdependence,' even in a complex political climate?"
- Holistic Water Management
"Mekorot does not simply supply water; it operates an integrated national grid combining desalination, recycled wastewater, surface water, and groundwater. How does this holistic concept of 'managing the water economy as a single unified grid' reshape national security and resilience for countries confronting climate change?"
- Global Market Expansion
In recent years, Mekorot's international consultancy has emerged as a key growth driver—spanning Latin America, Europe, Central Asia, India and more. What makes Mekorot’s operational and technological expertise so compelling for governments and international organizations seeking to upgrade their water infrastructure?
- Crisis Management & Redundancy
The Mediterranean algal bloom event over the past month temporarily shut down a significant portion of Israel’s desalination capacity, putting the water sector to an almost unprecedented test. Yet, the domestic public experienced virtually no shortage at the tap. How did Mekorot's centralized management—combined with real-time supply routing from alternative reservoirs, wells, and the national grid—prevent a system breakdown, and what global lesson does this offer regarding the vital importance of system redundancy in desalination-dependent nations?
- Future Multilateral Partnerships
Looking ahead to the next decade, what is the ideal model for collaboration between a state-owned enterprise like Mekorot, the private sector, international organizations, and diplomats to solve the global water crisis in the world’s most arid regions?
Barak Graber is the acting CEO of Mekorot Development & Enterprises