In a Middle East marked by tensions, Danni Reches, international advocacy officer at EcoPeace Middle East, defends a strong belief: environmental cooperation can become a strategic lever for regional stability. The NGO, present in Tel Aviv, Ramallah, and Amman, works on building peace based on tangible solutions around water and energy.
“The Middle East is the driest region in the world. In Jordan, water sometimes only flows one day out of ten,” she reminds us. The water crisis goes beyond just access to clean water: it affects agriculture, hygiene, food security, and ultimately national security.
Among the flagship projects is the “water for energy” agreement signed in 2022 between Israel and Jordan. Israel, a world leader in desalination, provides drinking water produced from the sea. In return, Jordan, rich in desert areas suitable for renewable energies, develops solar and wind installations to supply Israel with green electricity. A win-win exchange in a region where energy demand is booming, especially with the development of data centers.
But EcoPeace wants to go further. Danni Reches hopes that once the war is over, Gaza will be able to be integrated into this model through the construction of desalination plants, with security guarantees. The goal is to create a tripartite framework involving Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, and to encourage a return to dialogue around common interests.
“Working on peace from a shelter during a war may seem unrealistic,” she confides. “But it is precisely in these moments that regional integration becomes essential.”
Beyond water, EcoPeace advocates for an expanded vision including Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and European partners. For the NGO, the energy and water transition could become the foundation of a new regional paradigm: turning scarcity into cooperation, and the environment into a driver of diplomatic innovation.
