In Sharm al-Sheikh yesterday, Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg and Jordan’s Water and Irrigation Minister Mohammed Al Najer signed a declaration of intent to partner in the ecological rehabilitation and the sustainable development of the Jordan River.

Zandberg noted, “This is the first environmental agreement [between Israel and Jordan] since the peace treaty. It’s a critical agreement for the restoration and the prosperity of the Jordan River, with its religious, cultural and ecological significance for our region.”

She further said that the signing of the agreement was an especially moving moment for her, expressing the close relations between humans and nature as well as the special relations between Israel and Jordan.

“Cleaning up all the harm done to the river, bringing back the water flow and reinforcing the natural ecosystems of the river will offer health and prosperity to all the populations residing in its environs," Zandberg added. "The signing today expresses the willingness of both Israel and Jordan for environmental cooperation, as we are neighboring countries with a river between us. We must work together to rehabilitate nature so that we can build a better future for the region, especially on the backdrop of the global and regional changes which endanger all of us.”