The Israeli government on Sunday approved a proposal to accelerate the creation of a joint industrial zone straddling both sides of the border with Jordan, according to a statement by Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office.
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Known as the "Jordan Gateway," the initiative is geared toward increasing cooperation between Israelis and Jordanians and was first proposed during talks on the 1994 peace accord.
"Twenty-eight years since the peace agreement with Jordan, we are taking the good neighborly relations between our two countries another step forward. This is a breakthrough that will contribute greatly to developing and strengthening the region. The final details regarding this initiative were addressed last week during my visit with King Abdullah II in Amman.
"This is an initiative that will increase employment in both countries, advance our economic and diplomatic relations, and enhance the peace and friendship between our two countries. I thank Transportation and Road Safety Minister Merav Michaeli for mobilizing all of the relevant officials for this process.
"This is a joint industrial zone on the border. It will allow Israeli and Jordanian entrepreneurs and businesspeople to communicate directly. It will produce joint initiatives in trade, technology, and local industry," he said.
The plan includes an existing bridge joining the Israeli and Jordanian sides of the park, and Sunday's decision calls for advancing the construction of a terminal in Israel for pedestrian crossings that will house a facility for hosting businesspeople and guests who arrive from Jordan.
Plans to immediately build an entrance to the facility along with the necessary structures for operating the park will now be evaluated, and resources will be allocated in order to complete the project, the statement said.
The government will also begin devising medium- and long-term proposals for attracting commercial entities to the industrial zone.
"Increasing efforts on the 'Jordan Gateway' project has been one of the main missions of the Regional Cooperation Ministry in the past year," said Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej. "We have succeeded in bringing about significant progress after a period replete with impediments and obstacles.
"This is part of the major progress that we have carried out in strengthening relations with Jordan in the past year. We started with the agreement to export water in exchange for solar energy and now have this decision which takes the vision of the civil peace, not just between the countries but also between the peoples, an additional step further. The peace between us is not a peace devoid of economic and civil cooperation that enables the citizens of both countries to enjoy its fruits.
"Advancing the project will facilitate the strengthening of economic cooperation with the Kingdom and contribute greatly to the economies of both countries and of the region as a whole."
Transportation and Road Safety Minister Merav Michaeli said: "I welcome every action to improve relations with the Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is a strategic partner and is of decisive importance for the stability of the entire region.
"I am committed to doing whatever proves necessary to establish our relations with the Kingdom and assist in advancing the goals it has in common with the State of Israel," she said.
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