Droughts in Israel

The review includes climactic droughts extending over three consecutive years, as well as years when extreme droughts occurred in different parts of Israel.

Israel’s location in a semi-arid zone means that the country has experienced droughts on a relatively frequent basis. Droughts cause serious damage to Israel’s water economy and significant damage to agriculture. Since 1948, Israel has experienced four periods of protracted drought, the most extreme of which was in 1999-2001, when the three-year figures for the flow of water in the River Jordan were the lowest since records began. The Sea of Galilee fell to -214.90 meters – the lowest level for a century. The damage caused by droughts increased with the growing level of water consumption and pressure on water sources. However, water desalination plants have now eased Israel’s water shortage.