From The Red Sea To The Dead Sea (Jordan And Israel)

Last month, President Shimon Peres and King Abdullah II of Jordan met together to discuss constructing a pipeline that would pump life giving water from the Red Sea, and pour it into the Dead Sea which borders both nations.

(IsraCast) After years of study and evaluation, the current plan, as envisioned by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, is to construct a 112-mile (180 km) partially covered pipeline across the Wadi Araba (Arava), a desert region between Israel and Jordan that stretches from the Gulf of Aqaba in the south to the Dead Sea in the north. [...]

Theoretically, enough Red Sea water flowing into the Dead Sea could restore most of its water level over time. Moreover, hydroelectricity generated from the water coursing down the gradient would power a large desalination plant. Potable freshwater could then be delivered to urban areas, such as Jordan’s capital Amman, to relieve existing shortages. In addition, the canal’s supporters argue that construction could spark more joint Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian tourism and development projects in the Wadi Araba region.

Peres it seems has been promoting cooperation between Jordan and Israel, which has helped ease tensions between the two nations--not to mention help build up dialogue as well as respect.

Despite their past, both Jordan and Israel have been steadily moving closer together (at least economically) which gives hope to the future that Arabs and Jews can live side by side, regardless of their differences.

(Image Credit: IsraCast)

Trade: Israeli Arabian Exports Could Reach $1 Billion

Despite the fact that many of its neighbors have less than thrilling thoughts about the Jewish state (although there were a few praises not too long ago), it looks like trade between Israel and a few Arabian countries may potentially reach a billion dollars.

(Globes Online) Direct exports to Arab countries continue to grow. Exports to Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco were 45% higher in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the corresponding quarter of 2007, the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute reports. It estimates the potential of exports to Arab and Muslim countries which with Israel has no current trade relations at $1 billion.

According to Globes, Jordan and Egypt are Israel's biggest middle eastern markets, with the Jewish state trading $102 million and $40 million, respectively, in the first quarter of this year alone!

It looks like middle eastern citizens are once again "voting" with their wallets, showing appreciation (or at least satisfaction) of Israeli products, regardless of what their political leaders might be saying.

Peres Using Green Trees To Promote Peace

One must give this guy credit where credit is due. Peres is perhaps the most optimistic guy in all of Israel, and he still has not given up on the peace process.

As Peres sees it, if political and military resources can not help bring about peace, then perhaps an environmental solution is what is needed.

(Israel Today) In a project that calls for the planting of 4 million olive trees in Israel and Jordan on an area of up to 50,000 acres at a cost of $8 million, the vice premiere hopes to reduce dependency on military and political means to solve problems in the region and begin using economic tools.

"We must improve the relations between the peoples," Peres said.

Peres plans on using this project to not only create more cooperation between Jordan and Israel, but also more job opportunities as well (as someone has to cut the wood in the future and export olive oil).

Israeli's seem to have a thing for planting trees, (a very good habit I must say) although I wonder if they are going to use recycled water from fish farms?

Do You Prefer Israeli Or Plastic?

Despite being surrounded by hostile neighbors, Israel seems to be doing very well exporting plastics products to its Arabian cousins next store. Could demand for simple plastics be that high?

(Israel National News) Exports of Israeli plastic and rubber products to Arab countries in 2006 were up 10 percent over the previous year, totalling US $48 million, according to Dr. Ilan Tessler, chairman of the Society of Israel Plastics and Rubber Industry in the Manufacturers Association of Israel.

Ironically, the list of countries ranges from neighboring Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Garfield's Abu Dhabi and even Saudi Arabia.

Despite many opposition parties expressing outrage over the discovery of increasing economic ties with the Hebrews, perhaps this is a sign that the middle east is changing for the better.

Reposted on IsraPundit.

Egypt, Jordan Upset Over Kosher Trade?

It looks like some of Israel's neighbors are not too happy about finding out how much money is exchanged between them and their Hebrew "friends."

(Jerusalem Post) Israel's increasing trade within the Middle East has aroused a wave of criticism in Egypt and Jordan, where opposition groups have protested the expanding economic cooperation.

Figures published recently by the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute indicate a 19 percent increase in Israeli industrial exports to Arab countries between January and September 2006, compared with the same period in 2005.

According to the institute's figures, Israeli industrial exports to Egypt have grown by 36% and exports to Jordan have increased by 12.5% this year.

Opponents in Jordan suspect that the figures are much higher than this, and are shouting out the usual outrage. It seems however that both governments (Egypt and Jordan) are attempting to normalize the trade with Israel and are trying to justify it to their respective populations.

Note: Why don't they just state that their is a demand for Israeli goods instead of insisting on conspiracy theories?

Update: Corrected image location.