BICOM

What happened: President Herzog led an Israeli delegation of 700 people to the UN’s International Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

• Herzog said, “The climate is at the top of the State of Israel’s priorities. It is connected to the future of our children and future generations. We must do everything to do our part to save humankind.”
• The delegation includes members of the outgoing government; Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, Science Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen, and Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej, as well as representatives from private companies and NGOs.
• This was the first time ever there has been an Israeli pavilion at a COP summit; presenting Israeli technology including a range of environmental solutions dealing with water scarcity, renewable energy, agricultural and desertification.
• President Herzog met with a range of world leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, the prince of Morocco, UAE President Mohammad bin Zayed and Prime Minister Sunak.

Herzog – Sunak meeting: The two leaders discussed deepening the friendship between Israel and the UK and joint economic climate ventures. They also discussed security challenges, primarily the Iranian nuclear project.

• Herzog said, “Mr. Sunak is a great friend of Israel, and the United Kingdom and Israel have an incredible relationship, which has developed throughout the years, and I think it’s one of the closest. We have so much to speak about from climate change to economic development and cooperation, security challenges, and of course maintaining regional stability.”
• Prime Minister Sunak echoed those sentiments and added: “Israel is one of our closest friends, our closest allies, and there is an enormous amount for us to continue working on together, whether it’s economic cooperation, security cooperation, or indeed climate change.”

President Herzog presents: A regional ecosystem of sustainable peace

• In his main address Herzog reiterated his committment to Net Zero and said: “Israel is prepared to lead the effort towards regional climate resilience. I intend to spearhead the development of what I term a Renewable Middle East—a regional ecosystem of sustainable peace.”
• Herzog continued that the climate crisis “threatens the very existence of the future we wish to provide our children. It transcends politics and geographic margins, and so must we…Let us turn the climate emergency into an opportunity to address twentieth-century conflicts, thereby advancing desperately needed twenty-first-century collaborations.”
• “I believe that the entire Middle East, all Middle Eastern nations, abundant with sun and technology, will have the ability to connect the rest of the world to a magnificent source of renewable energy. In a region undergoing accelerated desertification, Israel also has the capability and know-how to deflect severe water shortages and to offer solutions to food insecurity.”
• He concluded: “In the spirit of our hosts in the region, I would like to teach from the Quran, which teaches us to be good to others, as Allah has been good to us, and to not seek to corrupt the land. And as our Holy Bible says, ‘God settled man in the Garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.’ Let us save the world God gave us, for we have all been created in His image.”

Regional diplomacy: Israel, Jordan and the UAE took the opportunity to signed a renewed memorandum of understanding.

• It build upon an MOU reached last year whereby Jordan will build a huge solar power plant in the desert that will be used to generate electricity for Israel. In turn, Israel will develop another desalination plant and supply the water to Jordan.  The deal was financed by the UAE.
• As part of the agreement Jordan will build ‘Prosperity Green’ a 600 MW capacity solar field.  Israel will construct a desalinisation site ‘Prosperity Blue’ that will provide Jordan with  200 million cubic meters of water a year.
• Minister for Regional Cooperation Esawi Frej said at the signing ceremony that the outgoing government is leaving the next one “a legacy of cross-border cooperation that creates hope for the whole region, with states working together to advance the optimal use of natural resources. This legacy of action proves the power of peace.”
• Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Zandberg also attended a meeting of Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East leaders which also included Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
• In addition two private Israeli and Moroccan renewable energy companies H2Pro and Gaia Energy signed a strategic agreement to supply green hydrogen.

Political context: Prime Minister Lapid, Transportation Minister Michaeli and Energy Minister Elharrar cancelled their participation following the election results.  President Herzog filled in and provided diplomatic continuity.

• Incumbent Prime Minister Netanyahu will be looking to reconnect to regional leaders.  He was close to Egyptian President Sisi and the warmth in which President Herzog was received attests to that continuing.
• Netanyahu’s relationship with the King of Jordan was much frostier.  The Bennett – Lapid government invested heavily to rebuild a close and constructive relationship.
• The king is thought to have concerns over the influence of the right-wing ministers, with particular sensitivity over the Temple Mount.
• Netanyahu is confident he can renew his connection with the Abraham Accord countries (agreements that he signed).  Bahrain’s government issued a statement following the election results that it would continue to build its partnership with Israel.