Israel and Jordan have agreed on a significant water sale deal and a substantial increase in Jordanian exports to the Palestinian territories in the West Bank. This agreement, achieved during a meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, indicates enhanced relations between the two countries.
Under this new agreement, Israel will sell 50 million cubic meters of water to Jordan, effectively doubling the water supply for the year, as approximately the same amount was already being sold or provided to Jordan. This sale marks the largest quantity of water ever sold between Israel and Jordan since their 1994 peace treaty, which initially established water cooperation as a key component of their relationship.
Gidon Bromberg, the Israeli director of EcoPeace Middle East, an organization focusing on regional water cooperation, highlighted the significance of this sale in the context of regional water scarcity and the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
Jordan, one of the world’s most water-deficient countries, faces severe drought conditions, while Israel is a global leader in desalination technology.
The water agreement, Israel and Jordan also agreed to increase Jordanian exports to the West Bank from about $160 million to $700 million per year. This decision aims to enhance economic cooperation and support Palestinian trade.
Lapid and Safadi also discussed broader issues, including a path towards a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Both governments will have technical teams finalize the details of these agreements shortly.
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reportedly met secretly with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman last week. This meeting, which was the first of its kind in over five years, is seen as a part of efforts to improve bilateral relations that had been strained under the leadership of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The new agreements come ahead of King Abdullah II’s visit to the White House, where the Biden administration is encouraging steps towards resuming peace talks in the region. The announcements also reflect a shift in approach from the previous years marked by tensions over issues such as the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Israeli settlement expansions, and stalled peace processes.
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