The Rise, Fall, and Possible Rise Again of the Middle East’s Most Ambitious Environment Scheme

Nov 1, 2024 | Peter Schwartzstein
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For an initiative that has the potential to rework the Middle East, Project Prosperity would leave a remarkably small imprint on the ground. In its initial phase, Israel would build a new desalination facility on the Mediterranean coast south of Haifa. Deep within the Jordanian desert, an Emirati company would develop and operate a solar field on the Kingdom’s behalf. Drawing from mostly existing pipelines and a few new transmission links, the two countries would then funnel resources to one another––water to Jordan and generated electricity to Israel––in ways that few citizens would even notice. So far, it is relatively uncomplicated.