Droughts matter if you are involved. Farmers take the most notice because their crops depend on getting rain at the right time. Town people tend to notice when they are not allowed water their lawns. When it comes to washing it starts to get important. Drinking is the critical issue. Dams are part of the political issues because they control river flows. Anyone down stream is at risk. When these issues arise in the Near East it can turn very nasty. Jews are very good at that. Arabs are not always full of charm. It may not make the headlines very often but it is part of strategic thinking.
Israel : drought and water supplies
"Israel stands to lose large amounts of drinking water due to poor quality and problems associated with drought years, according to the Water Authority. ..."
desertification.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/2776/
Effect of future Climate Change in Israel:
"Israeli woodlands are threatened by pests, droughts and fires, all expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change. ..." nasa.proj.ac.il/Israel-Research/Climate_Change_Israel_National_Report.html
Israel Drought 2008 - Mahalo
"19 Mar 2008 ... 2008: A major dry spell hit Israel causing the worst drought for 10 years. The president of the National Water Authority in Israel said the ..." www.mahalo.com/Israel_Drought_2008
Privatizing the drought - Haaretz - Israel News
"2 Jan 2007 ... Privatizing the drought -News and commentary relating to events in Israel, the occupied territories, and the world, along with an archive of ..." www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/807446.html
Drought - Related stories from Haaretz.com
":tags drought, Israel, water management, Kinneret. 21.1.2008 | 07:50 By Amiram Cohen. State to compensate farmers for crops lost over Negev, Arava www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/tags/index.jhtml?tag="DroughtBBC News | Middle East | Drought 'forces Israel to break treaty'
This was in 1999