Even before Israel’s elections take place on April 9, there is a real possibility the Red Sea-Dead Sea desalination project could secure necessary government approval, said Oded Fixler, deputy director of the Ministry of Regional Cooperation, on Feb. 18.

Normally, such a decision would have to wait for the new Israeli government to be elected, but officials are considering a special request to approve the long-awaited regional desalination and water conveyance project, for which negotiations began in 2005.

“The Ministry of Justice is seeing if a decision can be made before the election; otherwise, it will be taken up after the formation of the new government,” Fixler said. “If the [ministry] goes with the transition team, the decision has to be announced very, very soon. The decision of the government of Israel is to advance the project. We are committed to the Red Sea-Dead Sea project.”

A joint effort led by Jordan and Israel, the project will produce about 65 million cubic meters per year of desalinated water for people living in Aqaba, Eliat, Amman and Palestine — places where severe water rationing has become the norm. Ali Subah, Jordan’s secretary-general for water and irrigation, said Monday it is of the utmost importance to keep the momentum up and approve the Red Sea-Dead Sea project.