Second annual conference promoting regional environmental agreements

  • Homepage
  • Second annual conference promoting regional environmental agreements

The Arava Institute’s second annual conference promoting regional environmental agreements

With Ambassador Dennis Ross, MK Amir Peretz, Israeli MKs and senior Palestinian and Jordanian representatives

Sept 13 -14, Kibbutz Ketura, Arava Institute

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies will hold its second annual conference promoting environmental agreements between Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Among the conference attendees are Ambassador Dennis Ross, former special envoy to the Middle East of the National Security Council of the United States; former Secretary of Defense, MK Amir Peretz; MK Hilik Bar )Zionist Union); MK Yael Cohen Paran (Zionist Union); MK Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union); MK Esawi Freige (Meretz). In addition, high-ranking representatives of Tawasol, the Palestinian Authority’s committee for civilian dialogue, will be attending.

The conference will include participation of American representatives, and other foreign representatives; environmental experts from Jordan and Palestine; researchers and alumni of the Arava Institute. The conference will address the advancement of cross-border environmental agreements between Israel, Jordan and Palestine, as well as urgent environmental issues that influence the wellbeing of all citizens of the region and the advancement of an end to the conflict while promoting the peace process.

Conference panels will cover topics including laying the groundwork for regional environmental agreements, advancing a two-state solution, the crisis in Gaza, air pollution from coal production in the northern West Bank, wastewater issues and more.

[testimonial by=”David Lehrer, Director of the Arava Institute”]The environment cannot wait for a future peace agreement that will possibly come one day. The environmental problems are affecting us now, Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians. Despite the political conflict between us, only if we cooperate can we protect the environment, public health, clean water and air. We owe this to ourselves and to future generations.[/testimonial]