Israel, Jordan to trade solar energy for fresh water

The deal facilitated by the UAE to be signed on Monday will provide for a solar plant in Jordan to sell Israel energy in return for increased supplies of desalinated water from Israel. This deal for the biggest regional cooperation project ever reached between Israel and its neighbors is to be signed after months of quiet negotiation. On hand will be Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, Jordanian Water Minister Mohammed Al-Najjar and UAE special envoy on climate change Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. US envoy John Kerry will also attend. The deal provides for a UAE company to construct a solar plant in Jordan’s desert to supply Israel with clean energy and a special desalination facility in Israel for boosting the quantities of fresh water that Israel has long supplied the kingdom.