Israel & Jordan sign fresh water, Red Sea, Dead Sea cooperation accord
Fulfilling a historic vision, Israel and Jordan Thursday signed a bilateral agreement to exchange water and jointly funnel Red Sea brines to the shrinking Dead Sea. It was signed on the Jordanian bank of the divided Dead Sea, the result of a memorandum of understanding that Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian officials concluded on Dec. 9, 2013 in Washington, D.C
Jordan and Israel have agreed to share the potable water produced by a future desalination plant in Aqaba, from which salty brines will be piped to the Dead Sea. In return for its portion of the desalinated water in the South, Israel will double its sales to Jordan of fresh water from the Sea of Galilee.
Signing the agreement on Thursday were National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom and his Jordanian counterpart, Water and Irrigation Minister Hazim El-Naser.