Tackling climate change through regional and global lenses could enhance regional stability, expand Israel’s scope for peace and normalization and bring greater prosperity, according to a report published this month by the Middle East Institute. .
However, the report said, the coming to power of the Netanyahu administration has resulted in a “slump” in Israeli-Arab relations, limiting progress on environmental cooperation between Israel and its neighbors.
Nimrod Goren, Ofir Winter and Maya Negev wrote the report under the auspices of President Isaac Herzog’s Israel Climate Forum. It is based on interviews with government officials, mostly conducted at the end of the Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid administrations.
opportunities for regional cooperation
In a commentary about the report, the authors said, “Climate change is providing Israel with many opportunities to enhance regional cooperation, and the international community can help to realize them.
“But, should the Netanyahu government continue with its current policies toward the Palestinian issue – the potential will not be realized, and missed opportunities will increase. In that case, as regional countries step up their cooperation on environmental issues, Israel will be exempt could.”
The report offered seven areas for Israel to focus on to achieve greater climate cooperation:
- Promote “regional climate resilience”, especially in the areas of water, food and energy security
- Collaborating with “informal or semi-official” regional elements to circumvent political boundaries
- Increased dialogue between Israeli ambassadors and their Arab counterparts
- Mapping climate change and environmental needs of regional countries and how Israel can learn from them or help
- Annual regional climate conference begins
- Using the diplomatic power of the United States and the European Union to build multilateral, regional and trilateral climate initiatives
- Focusing on issues that will equally benefit Israel and the regional countries involved
Abraham Accords and Climate Cooperation
Israel was able to enhance its regional climate cooperation with the signing and establishment of the Abraham Accords in 2020. Negev Forum in 2022. However, the authors noted that there is no specific regional working group on climate and environmental issues, nor is there direct cooperation between Israeli and Arab environmental ministries.
According to the report, Israel’s full climate cooperation potential with its neighbors cannot be realized before progress towards Israeli-Palestinian peace is achieved.
“There is almost no environmental cooperation at the government level with the Palestinian Authority,” the report noted. “Some ministries have attempted to promote it and the Palestinian side has rejected them for political reasons, while others are not interested or see no prospect of success.”
To date, the Israeli civil administration in the West Bank has managed to achieve what the authors call “adhoc cooperation” with the Palestinian municipalities. In addition, Israel and the Palestinian Authority are members of a handful of multilateral initiatives, such as the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM). In addition, there are examples of Israeli–Palestinian cooperation led by civil society organizations, although limited.
The report called for the US and EU to intervene, saying, “Israel and the Palestinians share a long border and similar air, food, climate, water and ecosystem environmental challenges, but because of political circumstances they Most do not cooperate formally.” and advancing the inclusion of Palestinians in Israeli-Arab cooperative efforts.
“Efforts should be made to ensure that existing regional projects (such as the Israel-Jordan-UAE water-electricity swap deal) also benefit Palestinians (including Gaza),” the authors wrote, and this includes Palestinian interests should also be included. And new projects are needed that can be developed through mechanisms such as the Negev Forum.”
According to the report, Israeli officials see Morocco as the regional partner with the most potential for climate and environmental cooperation, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, water, agriculture, fishing and desertification.
Last year, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Morocco’s National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and Israel’s national water company Mekorot at the Global Investment Forum in Marrakesh. This spring, a series of visits to the country by Israeli ministers, including Economy Minister Nir Barkat and Environment Protection Minister Idit Silman, indicated that Israel is stepping up efforts in that direction.
In addition, Israel sent an agriculture attache to Morocco, a position that exists only in a few countries.
The report noted that the UAE’s main environmental interests lie in food security and the blue economy, while Bahrain primarily focuses on water, agriculture and desertification issues. However, there has been no practical progress on climate-related issues with Bahrain.
The Israelis also sense the potential for environmental cooperation with Turkey, although the authors said contacts between the relevant counterparts have not yet taken place. According to the report, Israel also aims to cooperate with Egypt and Zoran, although “possibilities to do so are limited due to political constraints in both countries.”
Ultimately, climate crisis could improve relations with Arab countries muslim country countries where Israel does not yet have diplomatic relations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.
“Israel shares environmental interests with these countries on issues such as desertification, water scarcity, global warming, climate refugees and food security,” the authors wrote. “Indeed, despite the lack of official ties, media reports suggest that there is some back-channel engagement and exchange of knowledge that could be expanded in the future.
“Given the great importance given to financial interests in the Gulf, the Israeli business sector should play a central role in contacts with these countries and the Gulf countries in general.”
The report highlights that despite several MoUs, very little has been implemented so far. Part of this, the authors said, is due to political and administrative challenges from Arab states, and partly due to the low priority accorded to climate and environmental issues by Israeli authorities.
According to the report, “On issues related to the environment and climate, countries perceive matters differently, and some counties in the region – including Israel – have dominant interests and agendas that push back or marginalize environmental issues.” “
Looking ahead, the authors said the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) The event in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December could create a “significant opportunity for Israel”, as it could encourage Israeli ministries to focus more on environmental issues and because it would also encourage countries in the region may inspire you to do so. , COP28, the report said, “could provide Israeli experts, business people and government representatives with access to a wider Arab audience to present their expertise and build relationships.”
The authors concluded, “The effects of climate change are already clear.” “Obstacles must be removed to broaden and intensify regional environmental cooperation.”