At the end of January, 60 Palestinian, Israeli, and Jordanian water, energy, food security, and environment (WEFE) experts and professionals convened in Athens, Greece, for a 3-day conference hosted by the Oxford Martin School of Oxford University. and organized by Damour for Community Development and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies’ Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy. The conference was supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Tel Aviv. The goal of the conference was to re-engage professionals in the region around critical natural resource issues and how to ensure security of supply in the face of climate crisis. This dialogue began prior to October 7th, 2023, but halted due to the war.
Many people raised concerns that it was too soon for Palestinians, Jordanians, and Israelis to meet face to face. “This is not a good time to meet” is a phrase we often hear in our region. Damour and the Arava Institute, however, believe that the only way to turn a bad time into a good time is not to wait. The organizers were not sure that everyone else would agree, but invitations went out in December, and to the surprise and delight of the host and organizers, the response was overwhelming with double the registration than expected. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”, and it seemed that these WEFE experts wanted to be that change.
The conference opened with presentations from Palestinian, Israeli, and Jordanian water and energy experts on the national strategic plans for these two sectors. It was eye opening to see how each government plans to address natural resource management in the face of the climate crisis. Following the presentations, a panel of Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian experts discussed the regional approach to natural resource management, and how cross-border cooperation could improve security of supply for all in the region. In the afternoon of the first day, participants heard about previous successful cross-border WEFE cooperation from Dr. Jawad Hassan Shoqeir, Ashraf Ajrami, and Dr. David Lehrer. Dr. Nikolaos Nikolaidis presented the current EU PRIMA funded EcoFuture project which is developing a strategic vision of sustainable development focusing on the WEFE Nexus in the Jordan Valley for Palestinians, Jordanians, and Israelis. The next session split the conference into three working groups around Energy, Water & Agriculture, and Environment & Nature Based Solutions. The participants were challenged to find cross-border natural resource management, infrastructure, and environmental issues which are of mutual concern for people in the region, and can be addressed through cross-border cooperation.
The final session of the day brought everyone back to the main meeting room to receive an update on the current infrastructure situation in Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority’s plans to rebuild. Unfortunately, the organizers were not able to acquire visas for Palestinians from Gaza now living in Cairo as refugees. Two Gazans joined the conference over Zoom and offered their perspective. In addition, Tahani Abu Daqqa and Barak Talmor presented the Damour & Arava Institute initiative Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza. A coalition of 14 NGOs and companies, Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza supports the establishment of Green Shelters equipped with decentralized WASH and energy technologies, winterized tents, and community services. The goal is to provide internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza with dignified, safe, and sustainable living circumstances for the long period ahead, while Gaza is rebuilt.
The morning of the second day reconvened the working groups who were given the task of developing specific proposals for WEFE cross-border cooperation which would increase equal access and security of supply to all people in the region. Following the coffee break, Harvard Fellow Ely Sandler presented funding and financing opportunities for development projects with an emphasis on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Sandler explained how Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement can be leveraged to provide funding for projects which reduce emissions such as renewable energy projects and grid improvements. Following lunch, the conference reconvened for the final session of the day. Cross-border WEFE initiatives were proposed, such as cross-border sewage treatment, nature-based solutions for agriculture, an offshore Gaza Island for renewable energy and desalination built from rubble, enhanced ground water recharge in shared Palestinian-Israeli aquifers, and a 50 MW solar field in Sinai for Gaza. Small working groups were formed for each project with the intent that the groups will continue to meet and to advance these transboundary initiatives through bi-national and tri-national teams.
On Sunday morning, the final day of the conference, each project was presented and the next steps outlined. Concept documents were submitted to the organizers and will be reviewed for their feasibility, impact, fundability, and other criteria. Damour and the Arava Institute will follow up with specific projects, convening the working groups, and searching for funding. The conference itself will reconvene virtually in 6 months to check on progress, and once again in person in another year.
The conference ended with many optimistic plans, new friendships, and bold aspirations, but even the fact that Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians were all able to sit together over a weekend, speak to each other, disagree with each other, and break bread was an achievement in and of itself.
In his closing statement to the conference Dr. David Lehrer said, “We have experienced one of the most destructive periods in our region’s history. We have been led by destroyers. It is now time that we are led by builders. We must rebuild Gaza, the Gaza Envelope, the north of Israel, and Lebanon. We must rebuild the bridges between Palestinians, Jordanians, and Israelis. We must rebuild trust and belief that a political horizon is possible.”
The Arava Institute and Damour for Community development are proud to work together to build the capacity for a Two-State Solution. Ashraf Ajrami closed by saying: “Peace is the real victory.”