At the Jerusalem Post Conference in Washington, the groundwork was laid for the “Joseph Accords,” which aim to position Israel as the Middle East’s key provider of water and food solutions.
Yoel Zilberman, CEO and co-founder of Hashomer Hachadash, told attendees at the Jerusalem Post Washington Conference that Israel has an opportunity to become a major supplier of food and water to the countries of the Middle East.
The project, he explained, would provide Israel with true food independence and reduce its reliance on Turkey and Jordan, which today supply close to 50% of its fruits and vegetables.
Calling the initiative the “Joseph Accords” after the biblical figure who ended the famine in ancient Egypt, he said, “It can become both Israel’s new national story and the country’s greatest post-war strategic undertaking: building its national infrastructure, while also developing the capabilities to become a regional influencer in this field. By becoming a major supplier of food and water to the region, Israel can be the bridge between the United States, the Middle East, and India.”
Commenting on how the initiative would change the perception of Israel to the world, Zilberman shared, “Before October 7, people called us the Start-Up Nation. Today, after the war, some people call us Sparta, after the military Greek city-state. Now we have an opportunity to build a new story for Israel and the Middle East — The story of Israel as Food & Water Security Nation.”
Zilberman pointed out that Israel has a vast pool of young people who risked their lives during the Swords of Iron War and are eager to lead meaningful lives by contributing to the country’s future. “The young generation in Israel,” he said, “is different than any others of their age in the world. They know exactly what they were willing to die for, and now they are trying to find what they are willing to live for.”
In the wake of the tragic events of October 7, more than 350,000 volunteers maintained and supported thousands of farmers who were called to reserve duty. Throughout the year, the organization’s 100,000 volunteers help protect the land of Israel, connecting Israeli society and the Jewish people to its heritage throughout the land and safeguarding agricultural facilities.
In recent years, Hashomer HaChadash has expanded by creating agricultural schools, developing agricultural R&D hubs, and providing opportunities to thousands of young people in its youth movement. Zilberman is planning to offer volunteer opportunities to members of the Evangelical community in the US who are interested in the Bible and working in the land of Israel.
“It’s clear to us,” he concluded, “that the land is not just here to produce food. It’s what connects us to our state and to our country, to become a patriot.”
This article was written in cooperation with Hashomer HaChadash.