The European Parliament has expressed concern at devastation to the Jordan River and has called on Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to "cooperate and rehabilitate".

The river holds special importance for Christians due to the Bible saying Jesus was baptised in it. The parliament of the European Union called, "on the governments of Israel and Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to work in a spirit of cooperation in order to save the Lower Jordan River, and (urge) them to establish, with the support of the European Union, a Jordan River Basin Commission," in a 9 September resolution.

At the same time the parliament welcomed cooperation among the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian local communities who are facing water challenges in the Lower Jordan River area. It called on Israel and Jordan to "fully honour" commitments made in their peace treaty concerning the rehabilitation of the Jordan River.

ENI