Editing Arab–Israeli peace projects (section)

== Joint economic efforts and businesses ==
{{Main|Israeli–Palestinian economic peace efforts}}
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.<ref name="Valley details">[http://www.jpost.com/Business/Business-News/A-valley-of-economic-harmony' A valley of economic harmony']{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} by Yaakov Lappin, ''Jerusalem Post'', 1/17/08.</ref>

In early 2010, [[President of Israel|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.<ref name="Peres tour">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110916040622/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147878028&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Your guide today is... Shimon Peres], by Ron Friedman, ''Jerusalem Post'', Jan 13, 2010.</ref> 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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051023015823/http://www.ngtnazareth.com/about.asp New Generation Technology (NGT) Company Profile.]</ref>

=== Joint industrial parks ===
One major idea is the creation of industrial parks where Israelis and Palestinians can work together.<ref name="972parks">[http://972mag.com/arab-jewish-industrial-parks-the-last-chance-for-economic-equality/76309/ Arab-Jewish industrial parks: The last chance for economic equality] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044257/http://972mag.com/arab-jewish-industrial-parks-the-last-chance-for-economic-equality/76309/ |date=October 5, 2016}} July 23, 2013, 972mag.com.</ref>  In 2011, according to [[Naftali Bennett]], there were about 50 factories in the West Bank industrial region where Jews and Palestinians were working together.<ref>[http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial_opinion/gary_rosenblatt/do_west_bank_realities_defy_perceptions Do West Bank Realities Defy Perceptions?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307174023/http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial_opinion/gary_rosenblatt/do_west_bank_realities_defy_perceptions |date=March 7, 2016}}, by Gary Rosenblatt, ''Jewish Week'', Tuesday, January 25, 2011.</ref>

=== Local efforts and implementation ===
;Gilboa region
Joint economic cooperation between Israeli officials in [[Gilboa Regional Council|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.<ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254861904553&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull Jenin now open to Arab-Israeli and foreign tourists]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, by Ron Friedman, ''Jerusalem Post'', 10/9/09.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255547725256&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter Mutually assured prosperity] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916025829/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255547725256&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |date=September 16, 2011 }}, by Ron Friedman, ''Jerusalem Post'', 10/15/09.</ref>

=== Valley of Peace initiative ===
{{Main|Valley of Peace initiative}}
The [[Valley of Peace initiative]] is an effort to promote economic cooperation between [[Israel]], [[Jordan]] and [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinians]]. It was initially centered around efforts and joint projects in the [[Arabah|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.<ref name="times12115">[http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-jordan-unveil-800m-joint-plan-for-red-dead-canal/ 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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402070604/http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-jordan-unveil-800m-joint-plan-for-red-dead-canal/ |date=April 2, 2016}}, ''Times of Israel'', December 1, 2015.</ref>

The Valley of Peace initiative began with a joint proposal in 2008 for a number of water-related initiatives.<ref name="Red sea plan">[http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Dramatic-new-support-for-Red-Dead-plan Dramatic new support for Red-Dead plan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104173532/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Dramatic-new-support-for-Red-Dead-plan |date=January 4, 2016}} by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, ''Jerusalem Post'', May 16, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref name="times12115" />

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.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Government-promises-to-press-ahead-with-Peress-Peace-Valley GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO PRESS AHEAD WITH PERES'S 'PEACE VALLEY'], BY HERB KEINON, Jerusalem Post, MARCH 11, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/122952 Peres' 'Peace Valley' Project Approved], israelnationalnews.com, March 11, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wYq1CwAAQBAJ&dq=Red-Dead+project+valley+of+peace&pg=PA73 The Eastern Mediterranean in Transition: Multipolarity, Politics and Power], By Spyridon N. Litsas, Aristotle Tziampiris, page 73.</ref> It was officially referred to within that plan as the "Peace Carrier."<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/world-leaders-to-meet-in-tel-aviv-on-israeli-arab-cooperation-1.381767 World Leaders to Meet in Tel Aviv on Israeli-Arab Cooperation], Haaretz, August 31, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.isracast.com/article.aspx?id=756 Valley of Peace] - By Shimon Peres, Friday, August 10, 2007 Isracast website.</ref>

====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.<ref name="israelideas">[http://www.israelideas.org/#!Israel-Desalinization-Technology-Leads-to-%E2%80%9CHistoric%E2%80%9D-Agreement-with-Jordan/c14g0/55384bec0cf23d0164444616 Israel Desalinization Technology Leads to “Historic” Agreement with Jordan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027034754/http://www.israelideas.org/#!Israel-Desalinization-Technology-Leads-to-%E2%80%9CHistoric%E2%80%9D-Agreement-with-Jordan/c14g0/55384bec0cf23d0164444616 |date=October 27, 2016}}, israelideas.org, April 22, 2015.</ref> 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.<ref name="times12115" /><ref name="israelideas" />

In December 2015, Israel and Jordan formally released the technical plans to move ahead with this project.<ref name="times12115"/> In May 2016, Israel and Jordan presented their plan for a Red Sea-Dead Sea canal to the World Bank and other potential investors.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-1.718857 Jordanians Host Red Sea-Dead Sea Canal Conference. The Project is estimated to cost $400 million.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008002605/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-1.718857 |date=October 8, 2016}} ''Haaretz'', May 10, 2016.</ref>

In July 2017, Israel and the Palestinian Authority announced a new deal to provide drinking water for millions of Palestinians. this was part of the larger deal between Israel, Jordan and Palestinians to build a 220-kilometer (137-mile) pipeline to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. One benefit of this canal would be to replenish the dwindling 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.<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-palestinians-reach-landmark-water-deal-for-west-bank-gaza-strip/ Israel, Palestinians reach landmark water deal for West Bank, Gaza], By Raphael Ahren and Melanie Lidman, Times of ISrael website, July 13, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Israel-PA-agree-on-water-deal-499575 Trump envoy Greenblatt facilitates historic Israeli-Palestinian water deal], By Herb Keinon, July 13, 2017</ref>

=== 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.<ref>[http://www.peres-center.org/SectionProject.asp?cc=01100209 Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214040453/http://www.peres-center.org/SectionProject.asp?cc=01100209 |date=December 14, 2010 }}, Peres Center for Peace.</ref><ref>[http://ipcc.org.il/ Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017194523/http://ipcc.org.il/ |date=October 17, 2016}} website.</ref>

=== Sikkuy ===
Sikkuy, public service organization founded in 1991,<ref>[http://www.sikkuy.org.il/?lang=en Sikkuy website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426210019/http://www.sikkuy.org.il/?lang=en |date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> runs Ramadan tours for Jewish Israelis.<ref>[http://www.sikkuy.org.il/departments/shared-tourism-project/?lang=en Shared Jewish–Arab Regional Tourism (SRT): A Sikkuy Initiative] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918160428/http://www.sikkuy.org.il/departments/shared-tourism-project/?lang=en |date=September 18, 2016}}, official website.</ref>