The Jordan River Basin: 1. Clarification of the Allocations in the Johnston Plan

Abstract

The Johnston Plan of 1955 relating to the use of the waters of the Jordan River basin is amongst the most frequently cited examples of proposals for the allocation of international watercourses to co-riparians. The Johnston Plan sought to define an equitable allocation of the basin waters to the co-riparians of the Jordan River at that time (Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, the last of these then incorporating the West Bank). The Plan was based simply on the demand for agricultural uses, i.e. on estimates of irrigable land areas. This paper reviews the circumstances surrounding the development of the Johnston Plan in the mid-1950s, citing recently declassified documents to throw new light on the events at that time. It is concluded that previous authors have quoted incorrect data concerning the proposed allocation of the Jordan River waters to Israel, due to confusion associated with the proposal by Johnston to allocate the “residual flow” to Israel, once all other estimated demands had been satisfied. The correct allocation to Israel as included in the Johnston Plan of 30 September 1955 is provided herein, as a prelude to a second paper in this series which discusses future allocations to the co-riparians from this important river.