Israel–Jordan relations

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Israeli–Jordanian relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Jordan

Israel
Jordan
Lake Tiberias
, in 1994

Israel–Jordan relations are the diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between

share a land border, with three border crossings: Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba Crossing, Jordan River Crossing and the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge Crossing, that connects the West Bank with Jordan. The relationship between the two countries is regulated by the Israel–Jordan peace treaty
in 1994, which formally ended the state of war between the two countries since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and provided the platform for diplomatic and trade relations. [1][2] On 8 October 2020, Israel and Jordan signed an agreement allowing flights to cross over each other's airspace.[3]

Jordan helped intercept Iranian drones during the strikes in Israel in April 2024.[4][5]

King Hussein lighting Rabin's cigarette at his residence in Aqaba, 1994

History

1948–1994

Between 1948 and 1994, Jordan adopted an anti-Zionist policy but made decisions pragmatically. Several factors are cited for this, among them geographic proximity,

King Hussein
's Western orientation, and Jordan's modest territorial aspirations. Nevertheless, a state of war existed between the two countries from 1948 until the treaty was signed.

Memoirists and political analysts have identified a number of "back-channel" and clandestine communications between the two countries which led to cooperation even during times of war.

Jordan (then Transjordan) was not a member of the United Nations when the vote on the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was held in November 1947, but following Israel's founding on 14 May 1948, it was one of the Arab League countries that invaded the country, gaining control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem (including the Old City). The Jewish population was expelled and Jordan annexed these territories.

In the 1967

Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace
in 1994, normalizing relations between the two countries.

In 1970,

Israeli Air Force made a series of overflights over the Syrian forces, prompting them to return to Syria.[6] The war against the PLO factions strengthened ties between Israel and Jordan. The Mossad is said to have warned Hussein about a Palestinian assassination
attempt and Hussein warned Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in a clandestine face-to-face meeting about Egyptian and Syrian threats prior to the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Hussein's intention was to stay out of the war.

In 1987, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres and King Hussein secretly devised a peace plan in which Israel would concede the West Bank to Jordan. The two signed the "Peres–Hussein London Agreement", defining a framework for a Middle Eastern peace conference. It fell through due to the objection of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. The following year Jordan abandoned its claim for the West Bank in favor of a peaceful resolution between Israel and the PLO.[7]

Israel–Jordan peace treaty

Main article: Israel–Jordan peace treaty
Hussein I of Jordan and Yitzhak Rabin, accompanied by Bill Clinton
, during the Israel-Jordan peace negotiations, 26 October 1994
Jordan River Crossing

In 1994, Israel and Jordan negotiated a peace treaty, which was signed by

Washington Declaration says that Israel and Jordan ended the official state of enmity and would start negotiations to achieve an "end to bloodshed and sorrow" and a just and lasting peace.[8]

On 26 October 1994, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty, normalizing relations between them and resolving territorial disputes, including water sharing.

achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians
.

Following the agreements, Israel and Jordan opened their borders. Several border-crossings were erected, allowing tourists, businessmen and workers to travel between the two countries.[10] Israeli tourists started to visit Jordan, and many foreign tourists would combine visits to both countries.

In 1996, the two countries signed a trade treaty. As part of the agreement, Israel assisted in establishing a modern medical center in Amman.

2010–present

In 2010, when the government of Jordan sought permission from international governments to produce

power plants, Israel objected, citing the unstable political nature of the Middle East. In light of the Israeli objection the request for United States approval was denied.[11]

In a meeting with the Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs in Canada, Jordanian King Abdullah noted that Israel, which he recognizes as a vital regional ally, has been highly responsive to requests by Abdullah to resume direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[12] Promoting peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is a major priority for Jordan. It supports U.S. efforts to mediate a final settlement, which it believes should be based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, proposed by Saudi Arabia.[13]

On 23 July 2017, the deputy director of security of the Israeli embassy in Amman

shot two Jordanian men.[14] The Jordanian Public Security Directorate concluded that the Israeli guard was attacked by one of the men, a 17-year-old furniture repairman, and shot at both the repairman and the building’s Jordanian owner. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the furniture repairman had been wielding a screwdriver, a claim the father of the Jordanian youth denies. Both Jordanian men died and the Israeli guard was injured as a result of the incident.[15]

On 22 November 2019, King Abdullah described Jordan's relations with Israel as being "at an all-time low", mostly because of domestic political issues in Israel.[16]

In March 2021, Jordan delayed approval of Israeli Prime Minister

Al-Aqsa mosque. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi accused Israel of breaching agreed terms of the trip to Al-Aqsa and accused Netanyahu of "toying with the region and its peoples’ right to live in peace for the sake of electoral and populist concerns" and "destroying the trust which is the basis for ending the conflict".[17]

In April 2021, Jordan condemned Israel for raiding the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and silencing the minaret's loudspeaker.[18] However, on 8 July of that year, reports surfaced that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with King Abdullah in what was said to be a "very positive" atmosphere. The report, leaked by an anonymous former Israeli official, said that Bennett and King Abdullah agreed to open a "new page" in relations, after the strained relations of the past years. More specifically, it said that Israel agreed to double the amount of water they sold to Jordan. Bennett's office declined to comment on the report.[19]

King Abdullah II of Jordan and Israeli president Isaac Herzog
in Amman, Jordan, 30 March 2022

In early September 2021, King Abdullah and Israeli president Isaac Herzog discussed sustainability, climate crisis, and energy in an unannounced meeting.[20] On 5 January 2022, Abdullah met with Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz in Amman.[21] They discussed regional stability and bilateral ties.[22] Abdullah stated "the need to maintain calm in the Palestinian territories"[23] and called for a two-state solution as a "comprehensive and just solution" of the conflict.[22] It was the first public hosting of an Israeli official by Abdullah in more than four years. According to observers, it was part of a reset of bilateral relations between Jordan and Israel.[24] On 30 March 2022, King Abdullah met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Amman.[25] They discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and bilateral relations.[26] It was the first official visit of an Israeli president to Jordan.[27]

In an interview with CNN in December 2022, after the inauguration of the new Israeli government,[28] King Abdullah warned Israel not to change the status of the Muslim and Christian holy sites and stated "If people [Israeli government] want to get into a conflict with us, we're quite prepared".[29][30]

In April 2023, Jordanian MP Imad Al-Adwan was arrested by Israeli authorities after trying to smuggle weapons and gold into the West Bank.[31]

2023 Israel-Hamas war

In October 2023, during the

blockade of the Gaza Strip and the "collective punishment" of Palestinians in Gaza.[32] On 1 November 2023, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel, accusing the country of creating an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” and “killing innocent people in Gaza”.[33] Jordan also declared that Israel's ambassador, who had departed Amman following Hamas' attack, would not be permitted to return.[34][35]

In November 2023,

Israel-Hamas War.[40]

During the April 2024 Iranian strikes in Israel Jordan intercepted Iranian projectiles that violated its airspace with their air force.[4][5]

Economic relations

Jordan has also benefited economically from the peace treaty. As a result of the treaty,

Qualified Industrial Zones were developed in Jordan. In these zones, companies that use a percentage of Israeli inputs can export duty-free to the United States. As of 2010, the zones have generated 36,000 jobs, and have become the strongest engine for Jordan's economic growth. The opposition Muslim Brotherhood movement has asked the government to shut them down, but the government maintains that the zones provide jobs for thousands of Jordanians.[42][43]

Israel has facilitated Jordanian trade with Iraq and Turkey since 2013 by allowing goods to be transported by truck via the

Syrian Civil War
.

According to a 2016 agreement valued at US$10 billion, Israel will supply Jordan with 45 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas over 15 years. The gas will be supplied by a new pipeline scheduled for completion by 2020 that will stretch from the Israel–Jordan border to the

solar power plants.[47]

In November 2021, Jordan and Israel signed an agreement brokered by the United Arab Emirates by which a UAE company will build a solar power plant in Jordan from which Israel will buy electricity in exchange for water from an Israeli desalination plant.[48][49]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jordan: Israeli 'provocations' at Temple Mount will harm ties". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  2. ^ snjeim (18 September 2015). "Al-Aqsa incursions strain Jordan-Israel ties". Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  3. ^ Israel and Jordan sign historic airspace agreement
  4. ^ a b Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (14 April 2024). "Jordan airforce shoots down Iranian drones flying over to Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "From foe to ally: Jordanian Air Force downs Iranian drones en route to Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ISBN 978-0-231-16672-0. Archived from the original
    on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. ^ Kifner, John (1 August 1998). "Hussein surrenders claims on west bank to the P.L.O." New York Times.
  8. ^ "The Washington Declaration". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 25 July 1994. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  9. ^ Susskind, Lawrence; Shafiqul Islam (2012). "Water Diplomacy: Creating Value and Building Trust in Transboundary Water Negotiations". Science & Diplomacy. 1 (3).
  10. ISBN 9780815627203
    . Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Bar'el, Zvi (7 July 2010). "Who's Afraid of the Jordanian Atom?". Haaretz.
  12. ^ "Fox News Reporting: Christians find refuge from terror in Jordan | Fox News". Fox News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  13. ^ Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations Congressional Research Service (27 January 2014)
  14. ^ Phippen, J. Weston (23 July 2017). "An Attack at the Israeli Embassy in Jordan". The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Jordan: Embassy attack over furniture delivery". CNN. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. ^ Tibon, Amir (23 November 2019). "Relations Between Israel and Jordan at an All-time Low, King Abdullah Says". Haaretz.
  17. ^ "Netanyahu 'Toying with Region' for Electoral Gains, Jordan's FM Deplores – World news".
  18. ^ "Jordan Condemns Israel for Cutting Call to Prayer at Al-Aqsa". 15 April 2021.
  19. ^ Hamodia Staff. "Report: Bennett Held Secret Meeting with Jordanian King". hamodia.com. Hamodia. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Israeli president and Jordanian king hold secret talks". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Israel's Gantz, Jordanian king hold rare meeting in Amman – Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Israeli defence minister discusses regional stability with Jordanian king". Reuters. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  23. ^ "King Abdullah II discusses Palestinian-Israeli peace with Benny Gantz". AW. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Jordan's King, Israeli Defense Minister Reset Ties". VOA. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  25. ^ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (30 March 2022). "Jordan and Israel leaders urge calm after historic meeting following spike in violence". Reuters. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  26. ^ "King receives Israeli president, reaffirms need to work to achieve peace". Jordan Times. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  27. ^ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman; Heller, Jeffrey (29 March 2022). "Israeli president visits Jordan in latest sign of closer ties – officials". Reuters. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Far-right Israeli government sworn in amid surge of resistance". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  29. ^ Saifi, Zeena (28 December 2022). "Jordan king warns of 'red lines' in Jerusalem as Netanyahu returns to office". CNN. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Jordan king: If Israel wants a conflict 'we're quite prepared'". Middle East Monitor. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  31. ^ "Jordan: Israel arrested lawmaker on arms-smuggling charges". ABC News. 23 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Egypt's Sisi, Jordan king condemn 'collective punishment' in Gaza". The Straits Times. 19 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Jordan recalls ambassador to Israel to protest Gaza 'catastrophe'". Al Jazeera. 1 November 2023.
  34. ^ Jordan open to 'all options' as Gaza conflict intensifies reuters.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  35. ^ Over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry says; UN calls Gaza a children’s graveyard cnbc.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  36. ^ Jordan open to 'all options' as Gaza conflict intensifies reuters.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  37. ^ Over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry says; UN calls Gaza a children’s graveyard cnbc.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  38. ^ Jordan open to 'all options' as Gaza conflict intensifies reuters.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  39. ^ Over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry says; UN calls Gaza a children’s graveyard cnbc.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  40. ^ a b Stein, Lucia; Armitage, Rebecca (4 November 2023). "Denouncing the Israel-Gaza war, the king and queen of Jordan are walking a delicate diplomatic tightrope". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  41. ^ Jbour, Abdullah (7 November 2023). "Jordan and the Israeli War on Gaza: Shifts in Political Discourse". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  42. ^ Jamal Halaby (12 April 2010). "Business with Israel pays off in Jordan". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  43. ^ David Makovsky (31 January 2003). "Peace Pays Off for Jordan". Los Angeles Times.
  44. ^ Lior, Gad (5 April 2013). "Iraqi goods travel to Turkey via Israel". Ynetnews. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  45. ^ Tayseer, Mohammad; Benmeleh, Yaacov (4 July 2018). "Jordan Pipeline for Israeli Gas Set for Completion by End of 2019". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  46. ^ Ghazal, Mohammad (5 July 2018). "Israeli gas to Jordan expected in 2020 — official". The Jordan Times. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  47. ^ Jordan starts getting gas from Israel despite heated opposition. Arab News. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  48. ^ Harkov, Lahav (22 November 2021). "Israel, Jordan sign climate cooperation agreement in Dubai". The Jerusalem Post.
  49. ^ "Israel, Jordan to partner in water-for-energy deal". Reuters. 22 November 2021.
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