Water shortage, tensions in royal family, economic woes push nervous US and Israel to show of support for king, fearing fall of key ally could have disastrous effects on region

Local protesters fail to have planned facility moved within existing industrial zone in coastal Acre, rather than on agricultural land

Sorek A ordered to provide NIS 60m worth of water without charge; former official says 'sum should be much higher'

Energy Ministry inquiry reveals that Sorek plant manipulated chloride amounts before daily samples were taken; workers at Palmachim facility doctored lab reports

Local residents say facility would unduly damage the environment, when it could be constructed in a nearby industrial zone instead

Technology has doubled the amount of water available to Israelis, and a new NIS 1 billion plan to bring treated water to the northern freshwater lake will increase it even further

When facility is completed in 2023, the Jewish state will be drawing 85% of its potable water from the sea