The agreement was reached in November at the global climate negotiations COP27 in Egypt. Now, water from the Sea of Galilee in Israel has begun to flow in the taps of the homes of residents of Jordan's capital Amman. There you only have water in the taps 36 hours a week.
The architects behind the agreement are the organization Eco Peace, which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
"We are a region associated with violence and conflict and where trust is low. But if we can solve common challenges in light of climate change, we can also create a more peaceful relationship," said Yana Abu Taleb, campaign manager in the Middle East.
Export water
In Jordan, the water is literally running out. Right now, people are living on the last underground water reserves that are pumped up twice as fast as they are replenished. The Dead Sea is sinking by 1.4 metres a year and the Jordan River is shrinking, partly because neighbouring countries are draining the river and partly because of climate change. It rains less and less and the average temperature rises.
Israel plans to build a desalination plant on the Mediterranean Sea and bring the water in pipelines to the neighboring country. In return, Israel will import green solar electricity from Jordan. Israel is struggling to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and is short of land on which solar or wind farms can be built. Jordan, on the other hand, is a larger country that can build large facilities.
But peace with the neighbouring country is fragile and Israel is still considered an arch-enemy. That is why the agreement has also provoked protests.
Must act
"How can we dare to depend on Israel for something as vital as water? What if, in the next conflict, they turn off the tap, wonders Mahmoud Oran, chairman of Jordan's farmers.
But Yana Abu Taleb from Eco Peace is convinced that this is the way forward.
"I understand the concern, water is about national security. But we are in such a hurry that we have to act, and the agreement is strong because it is based on interdependence.