Israel gives new meaning to the virtual water concept

"" I am the minister for "virtual" water," says Mr Attili, without a hint of a smile. On a map of the West Bank he shows that the Mountain Aquifer lies largely under Palestinian territory, but says his department is prevented by Israel from sinking wells to extract water.

"All I do is crisis management. I can't even put two ends of a pipe together without Israel's permission", he says, somewhat sarcastically." (Thanks Marcy)