The very waters of life, according to the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, are said to flow from the Holy Land of the ancient Middle East region. Yet today's politicians are charting a perilous course: Their policies could bury the area under desert sand and concrete, shatter hopes for lasting peace, and pose a threat far beyond the immediate reality. Joyce Shira Starr illuminates the spiritual view of water set forth in the sacred writings and shows how this legacy has shaped the current political terrain. Concentrating on the past decade, she exposes the behind-the-scenes intrigue and battles over water policy that endanger the Middle East and beyond. Starr looks to the past as a guide - and as a siren warning. And she discloses the essential steps nations must take to prevent calamitous water shortages, pollution, and famine in the all too near future.The author, a recognized authority on water policy and an expert on the Middle East, has devised water strategies with prime ministers, presidents, and global statesmen.