REENERGIZING PEACE: THE POTENTIAL OF COOPERATIVE ENERGY TO PRODUCE A SUSTAINABLE AND PEACEFUL MIDDLE EAST

Synopsis This article explores potential regional energy cooperation between Israel, Jordan, and Palestine with an eye towards increasing collective sustainability and addressing the present climate crisis. We begin this article by examining the cooperation that was proposed, but never implemented, in the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, and the Oslo Agreements between Israel and Palestine. We explain how the improved economics of renewable energy generation and desalination provides a unique opportunity to renew the energy-based regional collaboration that was envisioned in these two agreements. We argue that the economic transformation of renewable electricity generation and storage technologies can allow all parties in this region to pursue a more integrated and sustainable regional energy strategy. We then detail specific examples of how the challenges of water and energy scarcity in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine could be addressed more effectively through regional cooperation. We do this by presenting three brief case studies that highlight the potential of regional cooperation in energy production: the Red Sea-Dead Sea project; increased Palestinian autonomy over renewable electricity infrastructure; and the win-win scenario of a proposed plan between Israel, Jordan, and Palestine as they seek to expand desalinated water supply for growing populations while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating climate change constitutes a global chal· lenge which can help expedite long overdue cooperation in improving the energy security and environmental performance of Israel and its neighbors.