The bilateral relationship between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan represents one of the most critical pillars of Middle Eastern security and regional stability. Sponsored by the United States and signed in the Arava desert on October 26, 1994, by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein, the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty ended forty-six years of de facto warfare and established a framework for deep strategic cooperation. Today, the primary actors in this relationship include the Israeli government, King Abdullah II and the Jordanian royal court, and the United States, alongside domestic political forces in Jordan—such as the influential Muslim Brotherhood and a highly vocal, anti-normalization public. For Israel and its public diplomacy (hasbara) efforts, this category is of paramount importance. It serves as a powerful case study of how formal peace agreements yield immense, tangible benefits in security, intelligence, water, and energy, demonstrating that Israel is a reliable and indispensable partner to its Arab neighbors. Presenting the reality of this relationship allows advocates to counter narratives of regional isolation, emphasize Israel's humanitarian and ecological contributions to Jordanian survival, and distinguish between loud domestic political rhetoric and the quiet, robust security partnership that protects both nations from common adversaries.
The Road to Wadi Araba and the 1994 Treaty
Prior to the formal signing of the peace treaty, Israel and Jordan maintained decades of clandestine, high-level contacts to manage border security, share intelligence, and coordinate on shared resource challenges. This pragmatic under-the-table relationship was catalyzed into open diplomacy by the 1991 Madrid Conference, eventually culminating in the historic treaty signed at the Arava border crossing on October 26, 1994. The agreement was a landmark achievement that officially ended decades of belligerency, established internationally recognized borders based on the British Mandate boundaries, and recognized Jordan’s special historic role in administering the Islamic holy sites on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. According to historical records archived by the Jewish Virtual Library, the treaty immediately opened the door to a series of bilateral agreements covering trade, environmental protection, tourism, and mutual security assistance. Despite the high hopes of King Hussein for a "warm peace," the relationship has evolved into what analysts often call a "cold peace," characterized by deep strategic alignment at the governmental and military levels alongside intense hostility from the Jordanian populace, which is heavily comprised of individuals of Palestinian descent. Nevertheless, the treaty remains a foundational component of both nations' security, surviving multiple regional crises, including the Second Intifada, changes in Israeli leadership, and successive Gaza wars.
Key Issues in the Modern Bilateral Relationship
- Water Security and Resource Sharing: Jordan is one of the most water-scarce nations on Earth, and Israel has become a critical lifeline for the kingdom. Under the 1994 treaty, Israel committed to providing Jordan with specific water allocations, a quota that has been subsequently increased and even doubled to over 100 million cubic meters annually, utilizing Israel's advanced desalination infrastructure. This is further complemented by the "Project Prosperity" initiative, a landmark solar-energy-for-desalinated-water exchange facilitated by the United Arab Emirates.
- Energy Interdependence and Natural Gas: The discovery of massive natural gas fields off Israel's Mediterranean coast has transformed regional energy dynamics. In September 2016, Israel and Jordan signed a historic 15-year, $10 billion natural gas agreement, which began supplying gas to Jordan’s National Electric Company in 2020 and now satisfies approximately 40 percent of the kingdom's annual electricity requirements. This energy partnership provides Jordan with highly reliable, cost-effective fuel while cementing a long-term economic bond between the two nations.
- Unprecedented Security and Intelligence Cooperation: Behind the scenes of public diplomacy, the military and intelligence establishments of Israel and Jordan maintain an exceptionally close and effective partnership. Jordan’s long border serves as a vital buffer zone, and both nations coordinate intensively to prevent cross-border infiltration, weapons smuggling, and terrorist activities. This strategic alignment was demonstrated dramatically in April 2024, when the Jordanian military actively assisted in intercepting Iranian drone and missile strikes directed at Israel, demonstrating the deep-seated security interdependence that protects both sovereign states.
- The Status Quo and Holy Sites in Jerusalem: Article 9 of the 1994 peace treaty explicitly respects Jordan's special historic role regarding the Islamic holy shrines in Jerusalem. Maintaining the delicate status quo on the Temple Mount is a constant priority for both governments; however, local tensions are frequently exploited by radical actors, including the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, to whip up anti-Israel hysteria within Jordan, making the management of religious administration a central diplomatic challenge.
Israel's Strategic Position and Hasbara Strategy
Israel views the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan as an indispensable pillar of its regional security architecture, protecting its longest border and ensuring a cooperative, stable state on its eastern flank. Consequently, the Israeli government consistently prioritizes the domestic stability of the Hashemite Kingdom, often showing significant diplomatic patience in the face of harsh rhetoric from Jordanian officials. In terms of public diplomacy, Israel’s hasbara strategy focuses on demonstrating that the treaty is a source of immense mutual benefit, providing Jordan with critical resource security that prevents humanitarian and ecological collapse. As detailed in a Washington Institute analysis, Israel continues to fulfill its water and energy commitments faithfully even during periods of intense regional conflict, proving its reliability as a strategic partner. Hasbara advocates should highlight that Israel’s provision of desalinated water and natural gas directly supports the daily lives of millions of Jordanians. Furthermore, advocates must emphasize that Israel fully respects and upholds the historic status quo regarding Jordan's role at Jerusalem's holy sites, actively countering the malicious disinformation spread by regional instigators like Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood who seek to weaponize the Temple Mount to destabilize the bilateral peace.
How to Engage: Advocacy Guidance and Talking Points
When discussing Jordan-Israel relations in public forums, social media, or academic debates, the primary objective is to emphasize the resilience, mutual benefits, and quiet strength of the peace treaty. A common misconception is that the relationship is on the verge of collapse due to hostile public statements from Jordanian diplomats. Advocates should counter this by explaining that public rhetoric in Jordan often serves as a necessary political safety valve to placate a highly volatile domestic population, whereas the actual operational cooperation in military, intelligence, and resource management remains robust and unbroken. It is highly effective to point out Jordan's defense of its airspace during the April 2024 Iranian attacks as concrete proof of this deep strategic alignment. Furthermore, when critics accuse Israel of neglecting regional partnerships or violating agreements, advocates can point to the massive water-for-energy deals and natural gas shipments as tangible evidence of Israel's positive, life-sustaining contribution to its neighbors. By framing the relationship through the lens of shared strategic interests, mutual survival, and ecological cooperation, advocates can successfully dismantle hostile narratives, demonstrating that peace with Israel is not a political liability but an absolute strategic necessity for regional prosperity and stability.