Dear Friends, EcoPeace Middle East is pleased to share our Fall 2025 newsletter at a time of renewed hope. With a ceasefire and release of hostages, the possibility of ending the war in Gaza gives us cautious hope of ending hostilities and advancing our plans for the ‘Day After’ to achieve a sustainable peace. This moment underscores how important your support has been for our efforts to develop the IMEC Peace Triangle concept and related ‘Day After’ Planning efforts. Both the French Saudi led New York Declaration and President Trump’s 20 Point Peace Plan discuss ‘Day After’ economic initiatives that EcoPeace is pleased to have influenced. This is a moment where EcoPeace’s vision needs to capture the hearts and minds of our respective populations, so that the public can be vocal in their support of decision makers who choose regional stability, shared prosperity, and environmental resilience, over continued war.Over these past weeks, senior European voices have publicly aligned the vision of IMEC with the vision of peace. The German Ambassador to Israel at a public event at Tel Aviv University said, “Germany supports … the bigger framework of IMEC, that EcoPeace complimented with the Peace Triangle”. Italy’s Special Envoy for IMEC, Ambassador Talo, recently said in an interview in India that, “especially in times of volatility or uncertainty, we need projects like this (IMEC) to … contribute to the peace process”. Last week in Brussels, France’s Special Presidential IMEC Envoy, Gérard Mestrallet, said that “IMEC was conceived as a project for peace and prosperity. In the current context, IMEC could become one of the emblematic projects of the ‘Day After.’”At the same time, our humanitarian work on WASH issues in Gaza and our environmental work on other issues continue. Below you’ll find updates on our latest humanitarian work, our efforts to remove plastic bags from the Red Sea by launching Aqaba’s first paper bag production line, regional gatherings held with youth and educators this past summer and deepening policy engagement on other urgent humanitarian and environmental challenges.We were honored to have been nominated for the second year in a row for the Nobel Peace Prize and to receive the Al Moumin Award for environmental peacebuilding last week.We remain confident in our belief that cross-border environmental action can help pave the way to stability, resilience, and a just peace. This is the time to donate and support our work. Please share your thoughts on the stories below and in general at info@ecopeaceme.org Top Down: Advocacy & Events IMEC Peace Triangle at Global Gateway ForumEcoPeace and the Center for European Policy Studies held a full house event in Brussels entitled “Anchoring peace in connectivity – Global Gateway in the Middle East”. The IMEC Peace Triangle work was broadly recognized by EU officials as transformative and timely. Rehabilitation of Water and Sanitation Vehicle Fleet in GazaEcoPeace is helping restore Gaza’s emergency fleet of water tankers and sewage trucks, vital for hundreds of thousands of families. So far, 8 vehicles have been repaired, each serving around 30,000 people with safe water or sewage removal. The work, endorsed by the PWA and CMWU and undertaken with the generous support of the EU, ensures critical services are met amid crisis. The repairs leveraged an additional USD 600,000 in donor funds, expanding impact across Gaza.WASH Humanitarian and Infrastructure Responses  Presented in Brussels and ElsewhereOver the past 18 months, behind the scenes, EcoPeace research and advocacy has engaged with decision makers in the region and internationally, promoting practical collaboration in the WASH sector, promoting on the ground humanitarian responses and building up needed knowledge through research on “Day After’ solutions. Completing our fourth set of visits to Brussels this year, EcoPeace presented our latest set of recommendations to the relevant actors of the European Union. The discussions focused on the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza, alongside plans for alternative cross-border infrastructure models in desalination, energy, and humanitarian corridor assistance. See overviews of our concept notes here.Reimagining the Role of Water in Rebuilding GazaA study commissioned by EcoPeace concludes that a large-scale desalination facility in Gaza – producing water not only for the population of Gaza and the West Bank but also for export to Jordan – is highly feasible. This would entail integration of water (and likely energy) at a regional level, including with Israel, and serve as a cornerstone of broader regional cooperation initiatives, promoting both stability and economic development. Read our latest study here.A Jordan-West Bank-Israel-Gaza humanitarian Corridor Designed for Trade as the Engine of RecoveryAfter months of research and back and forth policy dialogue, EcoPeace’s latest study on the transport corridor, details the streams of aid and trade that the corridor needs to facilitate, with recommendations made on the different components of the corridor – logistical hubs and crossing points. It provides estimates for the required capacities, analyzes bottlenecks across these logistical chains (infrastructures, constraints, procedures and other factors), and suggests logistically, economically and politically feasible solutions. The estimated 5,500 trucks needed to enter Gaza daily, need to be replaced by trade flows on rail, further justifying an IMEC railway to Gaza.IMEC Events in IsraelThe EcoPeace Tel Aviv office, participated in several web seminars with the Israeli Climate Forum and  in collaboration with the Mitvim Institute, hosted a roundtable discussion on the policy and economic opportunities presented by the IMEC project.Launching Aqaba’s First Paper Bag Production Line to Curb Single-Use Plastics at the Red SeaWith the the financial support of Sweden, through Sida, EcoPeace Amman office marked a real milestone with the launch of Aqaba’s first paper bag production line. The launch, held under the patronage of ASEZA’s Environmental Commissioner, welcomed representatives from parliament, embassies, academia, and the private sector. The coral reefs, tropical fish and tourism industry of the Red Sea will be the beneficiaries. Workshop on Natural Soap & Cream ProductionEcoPeace Rammalah office and UConn, through the Sustain-Pal project, held a hands-on training for five women’s cooperatives from Jenin, Nablus, Jericho, and Ramallah. Twenty-two women learned to transform beeswax waste into valuable products like soaps, creams, and ointments, while improving olive oil soap production and packaging. An online platform was launched to support continued networking, guidance, and knowledge sharing. Supporting West Bank Water Access for Vulnerable & Targeted Communities in the Jordan ValleyOver the summer months, EcoPeace has been making significant efforts to provide water to the Palestinian herding communities in the northern Jordan Valley, who are facing severe shortages due to settler violence and climate change induced drought.  Bottom Up – Education and ResearchEmpowering the Next Generation of Regional Climate LeadersIn July, the Regional Climate Diplomacy for Young Professionals (CDYP) Workshop in Cyprus brought together 71 young leaders, Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli, to advance climate diplomacy and cross-border cooperation. We held 400 interviews to select 150-170 exceptional participants. Only funding limitations prevented us from bringing more young professionals to Cyprus.Achieving Scale Through Teachers Training Over the summer EcoPeace carried out impactful activities to strengthen environmental education. In July, 34 educators, Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli, joined the Regional Teachers’ Training to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange. A September follow-up session then helped teachers reflect, collaborate, and prepare for the new academic year.

Over the summer EcoPeace carried out impactful activities to strengthen environmental education. In July, 34 educators, Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli, joined the Regional Teachers’ Training to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange. A September follow-up session then helped teachers reflect, collaborate, and prepare for the new academic year. 





Neighbor Path Tours: Exploring Water Realities in Bethlehem
EcoPeace Ramallah office organized two Neighbor Path Tours for 37 women from Beit Sahour and Nablus. Participants explored sites including Hussan’s Ein Al-Hawyiah Spring, Battir’s terraces, Artass, the Solomon Pools, and the Environmental Museum. They learned about water scarcity, climate impacts, and how political conflict affects natural resources. Local farmers shared traditional water-sharing practices, connecting heritage with sustainability. 



Neighbor Path Tours Held Across Jordan
Over the summer, EcoPeace Amman office organized 22 tours with 469 participants (384 students and 85 adults, including 32 teachers). Participants explored Jordan’s water challenges, climate impacts, and sustainable solutions through immersive site visits. These tours connected theory with practice, encouraging sustainable habits and promoting shared responsibility. 






National Youth Camp: Building Climate and Water Leaders
EcoPeace Ramallah office hosted its annual National Youth Camp at Life Gate gathering 33 youth from the West Bank. Over three days, participants joined workshops, field visits and leadership activities on water, climate, and sustainability. Youth-led action planning and alumni mentorship encouraged collaboration and advocacy. Debates on gender equality emphasized the value of inclusive environmental leadership. 



Strengthening Connections: EcoPeace Alumni Gathering
EcoPeace Ramallah office held an Alumni Gathering with Agiamondo’s support, uniting 53 alumni from the Young Leadership and Schools programs. The workshop boosted networking across cohorts, encouraged mentorship, and created geographic clusters with new communication platforms. Alumni practiced fundraising and proposal writing, while sharing inspiring success stories. Despite security-related delays, the gathering-built momentum for ongoing engagement and partnerships.





Regional Staff Seminar in Cyprus Strengthens Collaboration and Resilience
In July, staff from our three offices convened in Cyprus for a joint regional work seminar. Over several days, teams aligned work plans for the remainder of the year, strengthened professional and personal ties, and explored new project opportunities. The seminar concluded with clear next steps to amplify EcoPeace’s impact across the region in the months ahead.

ShaRED Sea Regional Seminar
As part of the ShaRED Sea Program, EcoPeace held a four day seminar in Cyprus that brought together 10 participants from Aqaba and Eilat. They explored the links between science, community engagement, international policies and cross-border environmental projects. The program included a visit to the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), where participants learned about innovative marine research, as well as a glass-bottom boat tour to observe local marine ecosystems up close. Interactive sessions, national reflections, and participants-led presentations on their respective projects in Eilat and Aqaba fostered meaningful dialogue and cooperation across borders. The event was filled with connection, inspiration, and shared purpose. Thus the participants left energized to continue building regional environmental leadership and action for a more sustainable Red Sea region.