Gaza calm could revive East Med Forum, Israel-Jordan projects: Cohen
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli Energy Minister Cohen estimated that the mega gas deal between Israel and Egypt would reinforce the peace treaty and pave the way for stronger security cooperation in combating Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated groups and Hamas.
JERUSALEM — Israel hopes to renew the activities of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) as well as Project Prosperity, the water-for-energy deal between Israel and Jordan, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Al-Monitor.
Cohen’s statements came against the backdrop of a Ynet report Sunday that Israel had accepted Egypt’s demand to reopen the Rafah crossing with Gaza in both directions. The move could ease some of the tensions that have strained Israel-Egypt relations since the start of the Gaza war and pave the way for reviving regional projects frozen by the fighting.
In a parallel regional energy development, Lebanon announced Monday that it plans to purchase natural gas from Egypt, replacing part of the fuel oil it currently uses to run its power plants.
The EMGF — bringing together regional energy players as well as Western stakeholders — has suspended its activities since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the ensuing Gaza war, amid increasingly strained relations between Israel and Egypt. Jordan also suspended Project Prosperity — under which it would supply solar energy in exchange for desalinated water — because of the war in the Gaza Strip and its criticism of Israel.
