It’s easy to forget that for decades, the border between Jordan and Israel was a place of landmines and snipers rather than tourists and water pipes. If you look at a map of the Middle East, that long, jagged line running from the Sea of Galilee down to the Red Sea feels permanent, almost inevitable. But it wasn't. For forty-six years, these two neighbors were technically at war. No phone calls. No mail. Just a lot of tension and a few high-stakes skirmishes.
Then came 1994.
The Jordan and Israel peace treaty—officially the Treaty of Peace Between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Israel—didn't just fall out of the sky. It was a grind. It was a massive gamble by King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, two men who had spent a lot of their lives trying to outmaneuver each other. Honestly, the treaty is probably the most functional, albeit "cold," peace in the region. It’s a messy, complicated, and deeply pragmatic arrangement that keeps the lights on—literally—in ways most people never think about.
What actually happened at Wadi Araba?
Most folks remember the photos. Bill Clinton standing between Hussein and Rabin in the desert heat of the Arava Valley. It looked like a movie set. The date was October 26, 1994. But the "why" is more interesting than the "where."
Jordan was in a tight spot. Following the first Gulf War, where King Hussein had made the deeply unpopular (internationally speaking) move of appearing to side with Saddam Hussein, Jordan was isolated. They needed back in the good graces of the West. They needed debt relief. And frankly, they needed to ensure that Jordan didn't become the "alternative Palestinian state," an idea some Israeli right-wingers were floating at the time.
Israel, on the other hand, wanted legitimacy. They wanted a buffer. If they could lock in a solid eastern border, that changed their entire security calculus.
The treaty didn't just say "we aren't shooting anymore." It tackled the boring, essential stuff: water rights, border demarcation, and security cooperation. It recognized the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom in overseeing the Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem—a point that remains a massive friction point today whenever tensions flare at Al-Aqsa.
The water problem that keeps everyone awake
You can't talk about the Jordan and Israel peace treaty without talking about water. In this part of the world, water is more valuable than oil. Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries on the planet. Like, "running out of taps" scarce.
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Under the 1994 agreement, Israel agreed to share water from the Yarmouk and Jordan Rivers. They actually store some of Jordan's winter floodwater in the Sea of Galilee and pump it back during the dry summers. It’s a lifeline.
But it’s also a political weapon.
When relations get bad—and they get bad often—the water taps become the center of the argument. In recent years, we’ve seen the "Green-Blue" deal discussed, where Jordan would provide solar energy to Israel in exchange for desalinated water. It makes perfect sense on paper. Jordan has empty desert for solar panels; Israel has the Mediterranean and high-tech desalination plants. Yet, every time the conflict in Gaza or the West Bank heats up, the public pressure on the Jordanian government to scrap these deals is immense.
People in Amman don't always love the treaty. In fact, a lot of them hate it. But they like having water in their sinks. It’s a brutal, honest trade-off.
Why the "Cold Peace" is actually quite warm behind the scenes
If you walk the streets of Amman and ask about Israel, you’re going to get some heated responses. The "street" is overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian, and many Jordanians are of Palestinian descent. To them, the treaty feels like a betrayal. They see the ongoing occupation and wonder why their government is shaking hands with the IDF.
However, the intelligence sharing is legendary.
The Jordanian military and the Mossad/Shin Bet probably have some of the most consistent communication lines in the world. They share a massive border. They both have a vested interest in keeping extremist groups from gaining a foothold in the Jordan Valley. If the treaty collapsed tomorrow, the security nightmare for both countries would be catastrophic.
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Think about the 2024 Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel. Jordan actually intercepted some of those projectiles in its own airspace. That is the Jordan and Israel peace treaty in action, even if the Jordanian government had to frame it as "protecting our own sovereignty." It’s a delicate dance. You have to act like rivals in public to satisfy the voters, but work like partners in private to keep the country safe.
The land that went back
A lot of people missed the 2019 drama over Al-Baqoura and Al-Ghamr. These were two parcels of land that Israel had "leased" or used under special provisions of the 1994 treaty. Israel had farmed there for decades.
When the 25-year lease came up for renewal, King Abdullah II said no.
The King was under immense pressure from the Jordanian parliament and the public to assert sovereignty. He didn't renew the annexes. Israel handed the land back. It was a tense moment—some thought it might be the beginning of the end for the peace deal. But it wasn't. It was just a recalibration. It showed that the treaty is a living document, not something set in stone that can't be adjusted.
The Jerusalem factor: The most dangerous part of the deal
Article 9 of the treaty is a ticking time bomb. It gives Jordan a "special role" in the Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. This is the Waqf.
When Israeli police enter Al-Aqsa, it’s not just a religious issue; it’s a diplomatic crisis for Jordan. The King’s legitimacy is tied to his role as the Custodian of these sites. If he can’t protect them, his standing at home drops. Israel knows this, but internal Israeli politics often push for more control over the Temple Mount.
This is where the Jordan and Israel peace treaty is most vulnerable. It’s not the border or the trade; it’s the religious symbolism of a few acres in the Old City. One bad afternoon in Jerusalem can undo years of diplomatic legwork.
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Realities of trade and tourism
Before the recent regional instability, you could see Israeli tourists in Petra and Jordanian trucks hauling goods to the Haifa port. The "Gate to the East" project was supposed to be a massive industrial park on the border.
It’s been slow. Really slow.
Trade between the two isn't what people hoped for in '94. The "peace dividend" didn't really trickle down to the average Jordanian shopkeeper. While Israel’s economy boomed, Jordan struggled with a massive influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq. This economic disparity makes the peace feel one-sided to many.
- Security: Unmatched. The border is stable.
- Energy: Jordan buys natural gas from Israel's Leviathan field. It's cheaper than the alternatives, even if it's politically unpopular.
- Diplomacy: It provides a channel for communication when things get ugly in the Palestinian territories.
Moving forward: What to keep an eye on
If you're watching the Middle East, don't just look at the headlines about wars. Look at the water levels in the Dead Sea. Look at the solar-for-water negotiations.
The Jordan and Israel peace treaty survives because it has to. It’s a marriage of convenience where both parties have lost the keys to the house and are forced to share the living room.
The most important thing for anyone studying this is to recognize that "peace" doesn't mean "friendship." In international relations, peace often just means a shared understanding of what would happen if you started fighting again. For Israel and Jordan, that "what would happen" is too dark to contemplate.
Actionable insights for following this topic
- Monitor the Waqf: Keep an eye on any changes to the status quo in Jerusalem. If Jordan feels its "special role" is being eroded, the treaty enters the danger zone.
- Watch the Water: The next time a "Water-for-Energy" deal is delayed or signed, that’s your barometer for the health of the relationship.
- Border Infrastructure: Look for updates on the Jordan Gateway Industrial Park. Actual physical construction there is a sign that the "Cold Peace" is thawing slightly.
- U.S. Aid Packages: Much of this peace is subsidized by the United States. Changes in U.S. foreign aid to Jordan or Israel often dictate how much "patience" the two leaders have for each other.
The treaty isn't perfect. It's often frustrating. But in a region where borders shift and states collapse, that 1994 agreement remains a remarkably sturdy piece of paper. It keeps the water flowing and the missiles at bay, and in the end, that's exactly what it was designed to do.