Water Supply Central To Middle East Stability

TIBERIUS, ISRAEL - JANUARY 9: Shuli Chen, of the Israeli Water Authority, points to the optimum water level of the Sea of Galilee January 9, 2007 at Tiberius in northern Israel. With the water level in the country's largest natural reservoir as low as 3.30 meters below the flood mark, and with the threat of a relatively dry winter looming, Israel is turning to underground aquifers and desalination to provide its population with clean water. Increasing populations and economic growth are stretching the supply of fresh water all over the Middle East, and it is feared that future conflicts in the area will be over water sources rather than the politics and religion that have marked regional conflicts to date. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)