Five Israeli officials told Axios on Wednesday that Israel, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates are due to sign a deal on Monday, urged by US climate envoy John Kerry, to build a large solar farm in the Jordanian desert.
This is the largest regional cooperation project that Israel and its neighbors have ever undertaken.
According to the plan, the UAE-funded solar farm will mostly provide Israel with energy, which will build a desalination plant on its Mediterranean coast to provide Jordan with water.
The deal would only strengthen the strategic importance of Israel's relationship with Jordan, which has improved intensely since Naftali Bennett took over as Israel's prime minister. Jordan's water situation should be alleviated as well.
The solar farm is expected to be operational by 2026 and produce 2% of Israel's energy by 2030, with Israel contributing $180 million per year, which will be split between the Jordanian government and the Emirati Company.
The agreement ties the electricity deal to future Jordanian water purchases, and states that Jordan intends to double the amount of water it buys from Israel, either through a new desalination plant or existing facilities.
What comes next: On Monday, Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, Jordanian Water Minister Raed Abu Al-Saud, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed are expected to sign the agreement in Dubai, in the presence of Kerry.