It was a signing ceremony that hinted tantalising at what, one day, the Middle East could become.
On Monday, high-level representatives from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority sat around a table at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC to sign a memorandum of understanding that will allow the countries to share millions of cubic metres of water.
Through the deal, water from the Red Sea will be desalinated and piped to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
“This is a historic agreement that realises a dream of many years and the dream of Herzl,” said Israeli Regional Co-operation and Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom. “The agreement is of the highest diplomatic, economic, environmental and strategic importance.”