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Israel and Jordan sign water-for-energy deal

The UAE, which has been a partner in the project, hosted an event at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt where the MOU was signed.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, Herzog
Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 7, 2022. Credit: Haim Zach/GPO.

Israel and Jordan on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance a water-for-energy agreement.

The United Arab Emirates, which in 2020 became the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel and has been a partner in the project, hosted an event at the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the MOU was signed.

Jordan plans to build 600 megawatts of solar power capacity, the product of which will be exported to Israel, according to a plan announced a year ago. In exchange, Israel is to provide Jordan with 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water per year.

According to Israel’s Energy Ministry, teams from the two countries met on a regular basis over the past year to examine the project’s financial, planning and regulatory aspects.

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“Anyone who attempts to pose a threat or attack Israel will face devastating consequences,” said Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the global body.
Former justice minister Alan Shatter said Herbert Park Hotel declined the conference after asking about an IDF connection, and later released delegates’ rooms.
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