Dear friends,EcoPeace is delighted to bring back our newsletter in this new quarterly format. The newsletter opens with an article highlighting policy recommendations relevant to our work, followed by short news updates on our Top Down and Bottom up programming.This first article focusing on our “Day After” efforts, is published following a high level EcoPeace Middle East delegation to Brussels to meet with European officials and present EcoPeace’s concept calling to advance a “Peace Triangle” addition to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The article is timely following US President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi’s White House relaunch of IMEC.Please share with us your comments on this article and the newsletter in general at info@ecopeaceme.org Trade between allies – rather than tariffs and transfer of populations – could bring shared prosperity and peace to the Middle-East and the Globe The European Union should join France in championing the economic trade corridor from India through the Middle East to Europe (IMEC). The trade corridor would help Europe better meet its climate commitments by purchasing competitively priced Middle East renewable energy at scale through electricity interconnectors and green hydrogen pipelines. The proposed railway line across the Middle East links Indian ports with Mediterranean ports and then on to Europe, moving goods in 40% less transport time.   The corridor received renewed prominence at the recent White House meeting of US President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi. President Trump described the corridor as “the greatest trade route in history”.  IMEC was originally initiated at the G20 meeting held in India in September 2023. The signatories were the EU, US, India, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany and Italy. Since its signing, France is the only European signatory to have appointed an IMEC envoy to advance the corridor. The new prominence given to IMEC by the US allows EU policy makers to highlight the inconsistency of purpose between supporting the economic corridor and proposed US trade tariffs and Gaza transfer policies.The IMEC signatories represent powerful allies who, rather than going down the path of trade wars and transfer of people, could build on the economic engine that IMEC represents to advance Middle East peace, global security, and the environment. IMEC follows the historical spice trade route from India, across the Middle East, to Europe and on to the Americas. Interestingly, on the Mediterranean Sea, the main port of the spice route was the ancient port of Gaza.   Rather than emptying Gaza of its Palestinian population, IMEC could help build Israeli-Palestinian peace by creating Palestinian and Israeli jobs as a result of trade in goods, renewable energy and water, where both Haifa and Gaza ports would serve as export nodes. This month, EcoPeace Middle East, an organization co-led by Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians, presented newly commissioned studies in Brussels that show that European, US, Gulf, and Indian companies could lead highly profitable investments in electrified railways, ports, solar, wind, green hydrogen, and desalination plants that interlink the Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian economies into the IMEC corridor, simultaneously aligning economic, political, and security interests. The EcoPeace Middle East plan is called the “Peace Triangle addition to IMEC”.   As October 7th and the horrors of a now 17-month war expose, military might alone cannot remove extremist ideology. Population transfers to Jordan and Egypt only risk further Middle East destabilization and are a policy rejected outright by Europe and all other US IMEC allies. The legitimate security needs of Israelis and the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians could be championed by advancing the “Peace Triangle” with private sector investments and Saudi and Gulf commitment to work with the Palestinian Authority to defeat extremist ideologies. The great promise that IMEC represents of enormous investment and trade can never advance while the Middle East remains a hotbed of conflict. The US working with its allies in Europe and India on expanding trade through IMEC, rather than the imposition of trade tariffs, creates a needed engine for shared prosperity. Working with Jordan, Egypt, and the Gulf States to expand the Abraham Accords through a credible pathway to the Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel, de-risks the enormous investments needed to turn IMEC into a reality.   Now is the time for Europe, the US, and IMEC allies to champion the Peace Triangle by working with Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian leadership to realize the full potential of the “greatest trade route in history”.Top Down: Advocacy & Events  Gaza Water & SanitationEcoPeace efforts continued to target water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions in Gaza providing critical support by delivering essential spare parts to maintain and repair key facilities. These efforts significantly improved access to clean water and sanitation in Gaza. Additionally, work is underway to procure equipment to further enhance  the resilience of Gaza’s WASH infrastructure. EU Facilitated Solar and Water Solutions in Area CIn partnership with the European Union, a series of national consultation meetings were held to address critical issues in Area C, with a particular focus on solar energy and WASH interventions. These meetings underscored the importance of cross-border cooperation and highlighted the potential for renewable energy to play a transformative role in addressing both immediate and long-term regional challenges. SustainPal: Empowering Small and Medium EnterprisesEcoPeace Palestine office launched the second phase of the SustainPal program in collaboration with  the University of Connecticut. This phase focused on conducting environmental audits for 30 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), identifying opportunities to enhance their sustainability practices. High-performing SMEs were awarded grants, enabling them to implement environmentally responsible solutions and contribute to sustainable economic growth. New Petition & Campaign against Settlement Construction Projects on Battir World Heritage SiteEcoPeace continues to lead several legal objections in the vicinity of the Palestinian village of Battir. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Battir is currently at risk of destruction on a historic scale with no fewer than five different development plans being advanced by Israeli planning authorities in its immediate surroundings.  Healing in a Divided WorldYana Abu Taleb, EcoPeace Jordanian Director, gave a keynote address to over 1000 guests at the Rotary International Presidential Peace Conference, “Healing in a Divided World”, which was held in Istanbul. Yana presented the work of EcoPeace, both high-level and grassroots, and called for urgent collective action to link environmental sustainability with lasting peace. Presenting the Peace Traingle Vision at the World Policy ConferenceEcoPeace Israeli Director Gidon Bromberg, together with Gérard Mestrallet, Special Envoy of the French President for IMEC, spoke on a panel at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi highlighting the benefits of IMEC, including adopting the Peace Triangle as an addition to existing IMEC strategies. The Peace Triangle vision was also presented by Sharon Bengio at the Israel Climate Summit 2025.  Concern for the Red Sea EcoPeace convened in Eilat together with Knesset representatives, local authority leaders, environmental organizations, academics, and activists to denounce the revocation of the “Zero Risk” policy, which stated that extra precautions would be taken so that any transport of crude oil via the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat would not bring any additional risk to the local Red Sea ecosystem.  Upgrading Water Managment: Green School Projects in Jordan & PalestineIn the Palestinian towns of Auja and Ein Sultan, two state-of-the-art greywater treatment plants were installed, providing sustainable wastewater solutions to the local population. Photovoltaic systems were also integrated at these sites. Beyond infrastructure, the project emphasized capacity building through comprehensive training sessions for teachers, community members, and technical staff. In Jordan, projects in Deir Alla and South Shuna installed greywater and submerged drip irrigation systems, improved existing water tank and piping infrastructure, and saw the placement of signage to raise awareness about sustainable water management practices.    Bottom Up: Education & Research EcoPeace’s education initiatives continue to advance environmental awareness and promote cross-border collaboration. Our young professional climate diplomats, teachers and youth programming have remained over subscribed. School projects took place in Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin, and Bethlehem, supported by in-person and virtual tours, including VR experiences, which expanded outreach and highlighted regional environmental challenges and innovative solutions. In Israel, 44 eager young professionals gathered for a two-day seminar to explore, learn and dive into the world of climate diplomacy.   Climate Diplomats Regional Workshop in Cyprus In December, EcoPeace gathered 56 young professionals from Jordan, Palestine, and Israel for an Advanced Regional Workshop. The three-day event incorporated a blend of theoretical discussions and hands-on activities, allowing participants to apply the skills they had developed in earlier phases of the program across the three specialty tracks of Advanced Climate & Water Diplomacy, Media & Storytelling, and Community Leadership.     Israeli National Teachers Training – 3rd Cohort This hybrid training for biology teachers included webinars, frontal activities, and site visits. The seminar provided an engaging platform for teachers to delve into the intricacies of cross-border river and estuarine environments, participate in hands-on water quality testing activities, and learn about cross-border water issues.     Paper Bag Revolution in Aqaba  EcoPeace’s ShaRed Sea program supported 22 sweet and pastry stores in Aqaba in transitioning away from plastic bags to eco-friendly paper ones. The initiative aims to reduce plastic waste in Aqaba and promote environmental responsibility and sustainability practices in local businesses located in the Aqaba Gulf.   Promoting ShaRed Sea at the Mediterranean Youth Conference Our ShaRED Sea regional delegation traveled to Nice, France, to join the Mediterranean Youth Conference and present our unique educational work, which aims to promote regional climate cooperation around the Red Sea.   Despite the suffering and terrible devastation of the past year and half, EcoPeace continues to stand strong. Throughout the war we have brought Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians together against all odds by helping them recognize that shared environmental and climate crises demand cooperative solutions. In so doing we have built trust and helped advance sustainable peace for our peoples. Our staff in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, and Amman work together every day to advance our goals, which in these difficult times is itself a symbol of hope for a better future. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to updating you on our progress in the Spring.