Tiberio Grimberg lives on the outskirts of Beka’ot, an Israeli settlement near the Jordan Valley. He works as a gardener, nurturing and watering plants in his moshav, a type of Israeli town or settlement. “Around here in the Jordan valley, vineyards dominate the agriculture,” says Tiberio as he wipes his sweat, sitting in the seat of his tractor. The father of six sons has lived in Beka’ot since the seventies. “I found the future in this land. Water wasn’t lacking, and we now have green where there was once the desert,” he explains peacefully. “But the desert is like a jungle; it’s a continuous battle. And the Palestinians are losing it.”

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Less than a kilometre away the barren land of the Bedouin breeders stands in stark contrast. The dramatic water shortage is immediately apparent. “To get water we have to go over 25 kilometres every day with the tractor,” explains Abed al Mahdi Salami, the 73 year-old leader of the small Bedouin community of al-Hadidiyah. “We tried to build irrigation for agriculture and livestock with money from the Spanish cooperation. But the Israeli military demolished it for safety reasons,” says Abed gloomily while showing the remains of the pipe. Near his tent, a water pump from the large Israeli utility company, Mekorot, hums away quietly. “The water is there, you see? Why can’t we use it?”

Tiberio Grimberg, a gardener in the Israeli settlement, Beka’ot, in the Jordan Valley. A continuous water jet sprays out of an ornamental stone fountain © Gianluca Cecere

Tiberio Grimberg makes coffee in the kitchen of his house in Beka’otn © Gianluca Cecere

The living room in Tiberio Grimberg’s house. His grandson plays with the phone on the couch, while the television broadcasts cartoons © Gianluca Cecere

Abed al Mahdi Salami, head of the small Bedouin community of al-Hadidiyah in the Jordan Valley, in the tent with his tea © Gianluca Cecere

The tractor that members of the al-Hadidiyah community use to go fetch water. In the background, a water pump from Israeli company Mekorot, which supplies water to the nearby settlements of Ro’i and Beka’ot. The village is not connected to the network and average water consumption is twenty litres per person per day © Gianluca Cecere

A water cistern in the village of al-Hadidiyah © Gianluca Cecere

Goats grazing in the al-Hadidiyah community © Gianluca Cecere

Abir washes his hands and feet five times a day before prayers, in the Askar refugee camp © Gianluca Cecere

Poultry shop near the Askar refugee camp. A chicken is dipped in boiling water © Gianluca Cecere

Village of Khirbet-Al-Halawah. The arrival of the water tank is an important moment for the community. Fadel helps his dad to fill the well © Gianluca Cecere

Askar refugee camp. A simple gesture such as drinking a glass of water is often a daily challenge © Gianluca Cecere

Khail Abu Eram, 68, head of the Bedouin village of Khirbet-Al-Halawah. The village is located in the area south of Hebron, where the Israelies have set up nearby a camp for military exercises © Gianluca Cecere

In the Askar refugee camp’s elementary school in the Nablus district. Hundreds of meals are prepared for children in the local community © Gianluca Cecere

Askar refugee camp. An elementary school teacher takes advantage of the day to wash his car © Gianluca Cecere

Mahmoud, head of the Bedouin camp near the Ein Al-Hilweh, in his tent © Gianluca Cecere

Village of En Al-Hilwe. The Bedouins live in tents or tin shacks with very limited access to services. They are not connected to the water supply and have little sanitary and electrical infrastructure. A small inhabitant washes the clothes © Gianluca Cecere

In the village of Khirbet-Al-Halawah © Gianluca Cecere

Khirbet Al Halawah. Fadel washes his face with water freshly drawn from the well © Gianluca Cecere

Khirbet Al Halawah. Shefa abu Eram, 38, takes a dry bucket to bring to the well © Gianluca Cecere

Along the road to Hebron. The pasture is an important source of income for the Bedouin communities © Gianluca Cecere