The Stream, May 23: Water and the Middle East

President Barack Obama’s speech on the Middle East last week focused on the issues of borders and security, but made no mention of other core issues such as settlements, water and refugees, Egypt’s ambassador to the United Nations told Bloomberg. Revisit Circle of Blue’s coverage of the drought in the West Bank.

Over the weekend, French farmers blocked exits on the main highway linking Paris and Bordeaux in southwestern France to protest local government bans on water use, Bloomberg reported. A lingering spring drought has prompted French authorities to widen water-use restrictions to 42 of France’s 96 mainland departments.

The Council on Foreign Relations predicts an insecure future for global food prices. With natural disasters driving up the already high costs of grain in the United States, some analysts question the the growing use of corn-based ethanol, which takes up nearly 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop. Forbes calls the situation “borderline catastrophic.”

Malaysia and Indonesia will finalize plans for a European Palm Oil Council by the end of this year in an attempt to counter criticism of the industry’s controversial environmental record, the Guardian reported.

Malaysia will pay $2.1 billion to bond holders for the water debts in the state of Selangor in an attempt to consolidate the water industry, Reuters reported.

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