Arab–Israeli peace projects are projects to promote peace and understanding between the Arab League and Israel in different spheres. These are part of a broader attempt at a peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. Sponsors of such projects can be found both in Israel and Palestine.
Joint economic efforts and businesses
Israeli–Palestinian economic peace efforts are efforts to promote joint economic projects and efforts between Israelis and Palestinians as a pathway to reach peace between the two groups. They are based partially on official efforts and projects by the governments of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and partially on private efforts by individual companies and business people who seek to promote various ventures which promote economic unity and collaboration between the two sides.
This involves ongoing joint efforts by regional leaders to launch joint new industrial and economic projects, which will create new local businesses and job growth, and promote ongoing cooperation. It is an official joint effort of the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian governments to promote economic cooperation, and new business initiatives which can help both sides work together, and create a better diplomatic atmosphere and better economic conditions. It constitutes a co-existence project, as it is mainly designed to foster efforts in the private sector, once governments provide the initial investment and facilities.A valley of economic harmony' by Yaakov Lappin, Jerusalem Post, 1/17/08.
In early 2010, President Shimon Peres took an active and personal role in efforts to promote local business initiatives. Peres personally led a tour of top Israeli executives through the West Bank, and told them about many new Palestinian businesses which show much growth potential.Your guide today is... Shimon Peres, by Ron Friedman, Jerusalem Post, Jan 13, 2010. One company highlighted by Peres was the New Generation Technology incubator, a joint Jewish-Arab effort founded in 2002 which encourages new ideas and projects in technology and biotechnology.New Generation Technology (NGT) Company Profile.
Joint industrial parks One major idea is the creation of industrial parks where Israelis and Palestinians can work together.Arab-Jewish industrial parks: The last chance for economic equality July 23, 2013, 972mag.com. In 2011, according to Naftali Bennett, there were about 50 factories in the West Bank industrial region where Jews and Palestinians were working together.Do West Bank Realities Defy Perceptions? , by Gary Rosenblatt, Jewish Week, Tuesday, January 25, 2011.
Local efforts and implementation Gilboa region Joint economic cooperation between Israeli officials in Gilboa and Palestinian officials in Jenin has begun to have major results and benefits. In October 2009, a new project got underway promoting tourism and travel between the two areas. Major new business efforts and tourist attractions have been initiated in Jenin.Jenin now open to Arab-Israeli and foreign tourists, by Ron Friedman, Jerusalem Post, 10/9/09. The two regions are planning a joint industrial zone which would bridge the border. Palestinians would produce locally made handicrafts and sell them through Gilboa to other regions of the world. Another possible project is a joint language center, where Israelis and Palestinians would teach each other Arabic and Hebrew, as well as aspects of their cultural heritage.Mutually assured prosperity , by Ron Friedman, Jerusalem Post, 10/15/09.
Valley of Peace initiative
The Valley of Peace initiative is an effort to promote economic cooperation between Israel, Jordan and Palestinians. It was initially centered around efforts and joint projects in the Arava/Arabah Valley, along which runs the southern portion of the Israel–Jordan border.
The idea for this project began in 2005, when Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority asked the World Bank to analyze the feasibility of this idea.Israel, Jordan unveil $800m joint plan for 'Red-Dead' canal: As well as rejuvenating the rapidly diminishing Dead Sea, the canal will bring drinking water to both countries , Times of Israel, December 1, 2015.
The Valley of Peace initiative began with a joint proposal in 2008 for a number of water-related initiatives.Dramatic new support for Red-Dead plan by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, Jerusalem Post, May 16, 2008. The study concluded in 2013, and an agreement was signed in 2013 by Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority to move ahead with the plan.
The "Red-Dead" project to build a canal from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea was originally conceived and created within the Valley of Peace Initiative.GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO PRESS AHEAD WITH PERES'S 'PEACE VALLEY', BY HERB KEINON, Jerusalem Post, MARCH 11, 2007Peres' 'Peace Valley' Project Approved, israelnationalnews.com, March 11, 2007.The Eastern Mediterranean in Transition: Multipolarity, Politics and Power, By Spyridon N. Litsas, Aristotle Tziampiris, page 73. It was officially referred to within that plan as the "Peace Carrier."World Leaders to Meet in Tel Aviv on Israeli-Arab Cooperation, Haaretz, August 31, 2011.Valley of Peace - By Shimon Peres, Friday, August 10, 2007 Isracast website.
Red-Dead project In early 2015, Israel and Jordan signed a major agreement to carry out the "Red-Dead" project, and to address the major regional problems of acute shortage of clean fresh water in Jordan, and the rapid contraction of the Dead Sea. A new desalination plant to be built near the Jordanian tourist resort of Aqaba would convert salt water from the Red Sea into fresh water for use in southern Israel and southern Jordan; each region would get eight billion to 13 billion gallons a year.Israel Desalinization Technology Leads to “Historic” Agreement with Jordan , israelideas.org, April 22, 2015. This process would produces about as much brine as a waste product; the brine would be piped more than 100 miles to help replenish the Dead Sea, already known for its high salt content. This would reinforce the status of the Dead Sea as an important economic resource to both nations, in multiple areas including tourism, industry and business.
In December 2015, Israel and Jordan formally released the technical plans to move ahead with this project. In May 2016, Israel and Jordan presented their plan for a Red Sea-Dead Sea canal to the World Bank and other potential investors.Jordanians Host Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal Conference. The Project is estimated to cost $400 million. Haaretz, May 10, 2016.
In July 2017, Israel and the Palestinian Authority announced a new deal to provide drinking water for millions of Palestinians, as part of the Red-Dead project between Israel, Jordan and Palestinians to build a 220-kilometer (137-mile) pipeline to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. Also, the water in this canal will generate electricity for local towns, and will also power a desalination plant to produce drinking water.Israel, Palestinians reach landmark water deal for West Bank, Gaza, By Raphael Ahren and Melanie Lidman, Times of ISrael website, July 13, 2017.Trump envoy Greenblatt facilitates historic Israeli-Palestinian water deal, By Herb Keinon, July 13, 2017
Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce The Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2009. Its chairman is Eival Gilady, and its CEO is Ofir Gendelman. It has already held its first conference, at which Tony Blair was the keynote speaker. It is dedicated to promoting development of joint economic initiatives and businesses.Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce , Peres Center for Peace.Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce website.
Sikkuy Sikkuy, public service organization founded in 1991,Sikkuy website runs Ramadan tours for Jewish Israelis.Shared Jewish–Arab Regional Tourism (SRT): A Sikkuy Initiative , official website.
Policy groups
The following are organizations or institutions which address and analyze policy issues in a wide range of areas, as well as major projects or efforts which are officially carried out by regional institutions, governments, or NGOs.
Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a group comprising over 70 leading non-governmental organizations that work to foster reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as Arabs and Jews in the Middle East.ALLMEP Grows to Over 70 Organizations news, ALLMEP news, Thursday, 29 October 2009.
One of ALLMEP's proposals is an independent International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace to support and encourage efforts to build peace in the region.20009 ALLMEP Summit , group website.
EcoPeace / Friends of the Earth Middle East EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East is an organization which brings together environmental activists from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories, to work on common issues.
One of FOEME's major efforts is a regional advocacy project to promote discussion and sharing of water resources.Jordanians, Palestinians and Israelis gather for a regional advocacy meeting , February 2011, FOEME website
Mejdi Middle East Justice and Development Initiatives (Mejdi) is a local grassroots Palestinian organization which was founded by Aziz Abu Sarah, a young Palestinian activist who seeks to advocate cooperation and reconciliation efforts. Mejdi seeks to promote dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. one part of its peacemaking efforts is to promote local economic development, and strengthening of economic cooperation and Palestinian small businesses.Mejdi website; Our Philosophy , accessed 12/25/09. Abu Sarah has been consistently involved in a range of workshops and efforts in which he has promoted greater efforts towards reconciliation and dialogue between individual Israelis and Palestinians.To Fatah and back, By Lauren Gelfond Feldinger, Jerusalem Post, Nov 19, 2009.
Peres Center for Peace Peres Center for Peace was founded by Shimon Peres and carries out various policy analyses to advance efforts for peace.
IPCRI – Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information
IPCRI - Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information is a joint Israeli/Palestinian NGO and public policy think tank based in Jerusalem working towards building partnerships in Israel/Palestine. Under shared Israeli-Palestinian leadership, IPCRI carries out research and projects in various fields from economic development to environmental sustainability. IPCRI also facilitates public outreach and track two negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Aix Group Formed in 2002, the Aix Group is an Israeli-Palestinian-international economic study team that conducts research on the economic dimension of the conflict. Areas of focus include Palestinian refugees, the construction of a territorial link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, development of the Jordan Valley, infrastructure cooperation, the economic status of Jerusalem.
Givat Haviva's Jewish-Arab Center for Peace Givat Haviva is an education, research and documentation center, founded in 1949 by Ha'Kibbutz Ha'Arzi Federation; it is located in the northern Sharon Valley of Israel. According to its website "The mission of Givat Haviva today is to cope with the major issues that are on the agenda of Israeli society, and to foster educational initiatives, research and community work in the fields of peace, democracy, coexistence, tolerance and social solidarity."