Israel–Jordan

Israel–Jordan
Name	Israel–Jordan relations
Caption	Flags of State of Israel and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Established	1994
Envoys	Ambassador of Israel to Jordan; Ambassador of Jordan to Israel

Israel–Jordan is the bilateral relationship between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The relationship encompasses diplomatic, security, water, economic, and cultural interactions shaped by conflicts such as the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War, and formalized by the Israel–Jordan peace treaty of 1994. Ties have been influenced by regional actors including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the United States Department of State, and multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations.

History

The modern relationship traces back to the aftermath of the 1920 Nebi Musa riots and the British Mandate for Palestine, with the Hashemite dynasty ruling the Emirate of Transjordan after the Treaty of Sèvres era and the League of Nations Mandate. Hostilities escalated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War when the Jordanian Arab Legion captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Tensions continued through the 1956 Suez Crisis, culminating in the 1967 Six-Day War where the Israel Defense Forces seized the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The 1970s saw the Black September in Jordan clash with the Palestine Liberation Organization, affecting relations with Israel and the United States. Diplomacy intermittently advanced through initiatives like the Camp David Accords context and later negotiations mediated by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the Washington, D.C. peace process.

Diplomatic relations and treaties

Formal normalization was achieved with the Israel–Jordan peace treaty signed at Wadi Araba in 1994, overseen by leaders including King Hussein of Jordan and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The treaty addressed diplomatic recognition, the status of Jerusalem, and mutual commitments to peace, and led to the exchange of ambassadors such as the Ambassador of Israel to Jordan and counterparts accredited to Amman. Bilateral agreements and memoranda have involved actors like the United States and institutions including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation when disputes arose over sites such as the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. Subsequent political developments involved leaders King Abdullah II of Jordan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, and Shimon Peres in episodic negotiations and crisis management.

Border and territorial issues

The 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty delineated boundaries along the Jordan River and the Arava/Arabah corridor, impacting border crossings such as Allenby Bridge (also called King Hussein Bridge) and checkpoints controlled by Israeli authorities and Jordanian Armed Forces. Contentious issues have included the status of East Jerusalem, sovereignty claims in areas like Wadi Araba, and land parcels adjacent to Gaza Strip perimeters. Incidents at borders involved entities such as the Israel Defense Forces, the Jordanian Armed Forces, and border agencies coordinated via liaison mechanisms established after the treaty. The International Court of Justice and the Red Sea maritime considerations framed some disputes about maritime boundaries near the Gulf of Aqaba.

Water resources and environmental cooperation

Water cooperation has been central, given the Jordan River, the Yarmouk River, and the shared aquifers of the Mountain Aquifer system. The Israel–Jordan peace treaty included water provisions leading to projects such as the Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance feasibility studies involving the World Bank, the Jordan Valley Authority, and Israeli agencies like the Mekorot. Environmental and conservation organizations including the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and Jordanian counterparts have collaborated on ecosystems near the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. Multinational donors such as the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development have funded desalination and wastewater reuse initiatives to address scarcity and climate impacts.

Security and military cooperation

Security ties feature intelligence-sharing and coordinated responses to threats from groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and transnational jihadist networks linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates in the region. Military engagements have included liaison between the Israel Defense Forces and the Jordanian Armed Forces, and joint counterterrorism training with partners such as the United States Central Command and NATO liaison missions. Border security at crossings like the Allenby Bridge and coordination over refugee flows from conflicts in Syria and Iraq necessitate cooperation with international organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Trade, economic relations, and infrastructure

Economic links cover trade in goods, energy, and tourism, involving companies and institutions such as Mekorot, National Electric Power Company (Jordan), and multinational firms investing in sectors tied to the Dead Sea Works and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. Bilateral trade has been affected by accords under the World Trade Organization framework and by foreign investment from United States and European Union actors. Infrastructure projects include electricity swaps, natural gas pipelines negotiated with suppliers like Egypt and operators such as Noble Energy, and the development of border crossings including the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing for trade and tourism between Eilat and Aqaba.

Social and cultural relations

People-to-people ties span religious tourism to sites including Al-Aqsa Mosque, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and archaeological sites like Petra; institutions involved include the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and Israeli cultural bodies such as the Israel Museum. Educational and civil society exchanges involve universities like the University of Jordan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and NGOs addressing coexistence. The presence of Palestinian populations and refugees links communities to organizations including the Palestine Liberation Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. High-profile visits and cultural diplomacy have featured figures such as Pope John Paul II, Queen Rania of Jordan, and visiting delegations organized with support from foreign ministries and multilateral partners.

Category:Foreign relations of Jordan Category:Foreign relations of Israel