Israel to sign solar power plant deal with Jordan in UAE

Israel is set to sign a declaration of intent with neighbouring Jordan on building a major solar power plant in the kingdom that will be used to generate electricity for Israel, as well as power a desalination plant there to send water onto Jordan, an Israeli official said on Sunday.

The deal will be signed in the United Arab Emirates on Monday between the two countries' energy ministers, said Eyal Hulata, Israeli national security adviser. He made the comment Sunday at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, an annual event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“The Abraham Accords are the enabler of such an important agreement to promote the national security of both of our countries," Hulata said, referring to the controversial diplomatic agreement that saw the Emirates and Bahrain recognise Israel last year. The deal was slammed by the Palestinians as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

Hulata gave no cash value for the project.

News site Axios previously reported the deal would see Masdar, an Abu Dhabi-based clean energy firm, build the plant. Israel would pay $180 million a year for the power, to be split between the Emirates and Jordan, Axios reported.