SAUDI ARABIA - Israel Signs Solar Deal
Israel’s largest solar energy company, SolarEdge, has signed a joint venture with Ajlan & Bros Holding (AHB) to adopt solar energy in Riyadh.
The joint venture will support the deployment of smart renewable energy solutions in Saudi Arabia and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to reduce the country’s dependence on oil by the end of the decade.
Last year, Globes reported that dozens of Israeli business and tech figures were visiting the kingdom for advanced talks on Saudi investments in Israeli companies and Israeli investment funds despite Israel and Saudi Arabia having no official diplomatic relations. Quietly, ties have strengthened in recent years, as the Saudi crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, reportedly sees Israel as a strategic partner for helping achieve his Vision 2030 goals.
About 10% of Israel’s energy comes from solar. Environmental experts have said that if Israel invested properly in building the necessary infrastructure, 40% and 50% of its energy could come from the sun.
-www.jpost.com, 2 August 2023
Arno's Commentary
Saudi Arabia places fourth on the list of richest Arab countries (1 Quatar, 2 UAE, 3 Kuwait). Due to immense oil reserves, Saudi Arabia has become a leading voice when it comes to energy. But, as is self-evident, fossil fuel still amounts to 99% of power generation in Saudi Arabia. Yet the end is in sight.
Israel to the rescue. While large natural gas and oil reserves have been found off the coast of Israel, Israel is a leader when it comes to solar energy. Though Saudi Arabia does not recognize the Jewish State, business and technology relationships have been developed in recent years. Arab media suggests that meetings between the two nations, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, can be traced back to 2015, with a summit in Jordan in 2017.
Saudi Arabia’s population stands at approximately 36 million, of which virtually all are followers of the Muslim religion. Life expectancy is one of the highest in the Arab world at 76.9 years, and per capita GDP stands at $44,300 (2021).
Wikipedia reveals: “Dedan has several different meanings in the Hebrew Bible. Dedan (now part of Al-’Ula, Saudi Arabia) was an oasis and city-state of north-western Arabia. The people of Dedan are called Dedanim or Dedanites. Dedan is also the name of the son of Raamah and the son of Jokshan.” We note the name “Jokshan” which, based on Unger’s Bible Dictionary, is “the second son of Abraham and Keturah” (see Genesis 25:2-3; 1 Chronicles 1:32).
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
