Minister of National Infrastructures, Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer, took part on February 26, 2008 in a regional conference in Amman, Jordan. The conference, under the title "Managing water strategies and practical experience in arid and semi-arid areas", is in preparation for the global water conference to take place in Turkey next year. The minister of infrastructures was accompanied by Water Authority Director, Mr. Uri Shani. Participants in the conference included representatives from countries in the region: Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Sudan, and representatives of the Palestinian Authority.

The first session began with speeches by representatives of several countries, among them the host – Jordan's minister of energy, as well as the Kuwaiti minister of energy and water, the Turkish minister of the environment, and Israel's minister of national infrastructures.

"I am very pleased to stand here before you today, representing the State of Israel," said Minister of National Infrastructures Binyamin (Fouad) Eliezer in his speech before conference participants. "Israel has, with much effort, succeeded in positioning itself in the forefront of the water industry worldwide. Water is an inherent part of the environment and of the solution, so that we can cope with the changes and challenges of a sustainable environment."

"It is by now an accepted premise that water has become the 'oil of the 21^st century', and this premise has been proven by the importance of water and water technology. Water is the essence of life. Without it, human existence as we know it would disappear. In  recent years, alongside awareness regarding the environment and climate changes, in the post Bali era, we have seen the drastic change in mankind's conception of water. The outlook for the future, near and far, shows that we will all have to deal with water shortage on a daily basis, and that water will become the center of our lives and of humanity in general, already in the near future."

"It is clear to us all: we can no longer take the availability of water for granted. To meet the challenge, new technologies must be developed for optimal utilization of our water resources.

The fact that Israel, like Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, suffers from a chronic shortage of water is well known, and that has led us to develop several methods for optimal utilization of water – fresh water as well as technologies for desalination of water for agriculture and industry."

"Israel benefits from its massive efforts by attaining a high level of development of its water industry – in knowledge and experience as well as technical development. I believe that everything that has been accomplished in recent years in Israel and by Israeli companies places us at the forefront and the cutting edge of water technology worldwide. Israel's water sector has proved to be one of the most active and most advanced when it comes to infrastructures."

"Examples include the Ashkelon desalination facility, which – at an annual capacity of 100 million cubic meters – is the largest facility in the world making use of this technology; the Plamachim facility, slated to begin operating within a few months, with a capacity of 30 million cubic meters annually; the Hadera desalination facility, which will produce 100 million cubic meters annually within two years. And in addition, two more such plants are in planning stages – in Ashkelon and Sorek."

"I envisage an additional project that will serve all of us – a new 200 cubic million water desalination facility that will provide fresh water to Jordan and to the Palestinian Authority. I think that this project is of immense importance, and will cement relations between the three parties, and I believe there is no doubt that these relations need to be cemented."

"Another project which I strongly support is the Red Sea – Dead Sea canal, which is presently in the feasibility study stage. Even though out neighbors will probably benefit from this project more than we will, it is clear to all involved that quality of life in the region is vital for a true, stable, long-standing peace."

"My dear friends, Israel cannot and does not wish to stand on the sidelines in this era of climate change nor to keep its knowledge to itself. We want to share our knowledge with every one around the world, and first and foremost with our neighbors, so that we may all cope together with the severe water challenges we all face."

In the second session, each country participating in the conference gave its presentation on the issue of water. Israel was represented by Director of the Water Authority, Uri Shani, who spoke about managing the water industry under circumstances of uncertainty.