The United Arab Emirates has proposed hosting a trilateral summit with Israel and Jordan to discuss a new regional water and energy agreement, alongside efforts to improve relations between Amman and Tel Aviv.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth, Israel is considering the UAE initiative, which would bring together senior officials from the three countries in Abu Dhabi.
One of the main issues on the agenda is a proposed water agreement under which Israel would supply Jordan with an additional 50 million cubic meters of water annually, on top of the 50 million cubic meters it already provides each year under the Israel-Jordan peace treaty.
The summit is also expected to address the “Prosperity” initiative, which envisions Israel constructing a desalination plant to provide water to both Israel and Jordan, while Jordan would develop a solar power plant to supply electricity to both countries.
Participants are also expected to discuss ways to improve Israeli-Jordanian relations, which have remained strained in recent years. Jordan has not maintained an ambassador in Israel since November 2023, while Israel has not had an ambassador in Amman since October 2023.
Under the 1994 peace treaty, Israel supplies Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water each year free of charge.
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In 2021, the two countries reached a separate agreement increasing the annual supply by an additional 50 million cubic meters at a reduced price for a three-year period.
According to Yediot Ahronoth, Jordan later sought to extend that arrangement for another five years and increase the additional allocation to 80 million cubic meters annually. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen reportedly renewed the supplementary agreement in six-month increments before allowing it to expire in November 2025.
The report states that Israel’s previous extensions were influenced by US pressure and Jordan’s role in intercepting Iranian drones, while Israeli officials also cited concerns over bilateral relations.
The agreement has not been renewed since November 2025, leaving Jordan without the additional water allocation for the past eight months.
An unnamed Israeli official told the newspaper that Israel continues to fulfill its obligations under the peace treaty but is not required to provide additional quantities.
“We provide the Jordanians with the water we are obligated to provide under the peace agreement. We are not obligated to provide additional quantities. If goodwill prevails between the two countries, we will provide them with water,” the official said, adding that Israel’s severe drought in 2025 had increased the priority of preserving water supplies for domestic agriculture.
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