Water and the challenge of Palestinian Institution building

This article investigates local hydropolitical constellations in the West B ank through two case studies of individual villages. After examining the po sition of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) it identifies two concurren t dynamics in water politics in the West Bank a centripetal dynamic drawing power to the PWA and the would-be Palestinian state, and a centrifugal dyn amic dispersing water power among various village organizations and the Isr aeli authorities. The result is a dangerous situation whereby the Palestini an Authority is acquiring power even while it is not extending its control over local institutions.