Ayoub Kara
Ayoub KaraHadas Parush / Flash 90

The Israeli government has set aside 55 million shekels ($14.5 million) for a bridge that would connect the Israeli and Jordanian sides of a free trade zone between the countries, according to the Minister for Regional Cooperation Ayoub Kara (Likud).

Kara said Thursday that construction of the bridge has been on hold for many years – and this delay has “stymied the development of trade ties between Jordan and Israel, and between them and the rest of the world – mostly the US.”

What is left now for the joint project to begin is a Jordanian signature, said Kara, who toured the Emek Hamaayanot Regional Council area Thursday, on the border with Jordan.

Kara added that the Ministry for Regional Cooperation and the Emek Hamaayanot Regional Council are working together on building a center for development and instruction in business entrepreneurship – mostly in hi-tech – near the Jordanian border, and that they expect to attract entrepreneurs from the entire Arab world.

Aside from trade, Israel has also been investing in security vis-a-vis Jordan.

Late last month the Security Cabinet adopted a proposal of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to build a 30-kilometer (over 18-mile) long security barrier on the eastern border with Jordan in the very south of Israel.