October 26
Israel and Jordan Sign Historic Peace Treaty
The Treaty of Peace between Israel and Jordan formally ended nearly five decades of belligerency and created the second Arab-Israeli peace agreement after Egypt's 1979 accord.
Summary
Following the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians, Jordan moved to normalize relations with Israel after decades of conflict. King Hussein and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had reached a framework agreement in Washington in July 1994. On October 26, 1994, the formal Treaty of Peace was signed at the Arava/Araba border crossing in the presence of U.S. President Bill Clinton and other witnesses. The treaty established full diplomatic relations, resolved border disputes, and addressed water-sharing and security cooperation. Jordan became the second Arab state, after Egypt, to conclude a peace agreement with Israel.
Context
The Arab-Israeli conflict had placed Jordan and Israel in a formal state of war since the 1948 fighting that accompanied Israel's founding. Jordan administered the West Bank until Israel's capture of that territory and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War, after which secret channels between the two governments occasionally explored accommodation. King Hussein had pursued back-channel diplomacy for years, including a 1987 framework agreement with Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres that ultimately stalled under domestic Israeli opposition.
What Happened
Following the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, Jordan accelerated its own normalization efforts. On July 25, 1994, King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Washington Declaration on the White House lawn in the presence of President Bill Clinton, publicly ending the state of war and committing both sides to full peace negotiations. Three months later, on October 26, the formal treaty was signed at the Arava border crossing south of the Dead Sea. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordanian Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali affixed their signatures, with Israeli President Ezer Weizman and King Hussein participating in the ceremony while Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher looked on.
Aftermath
The treaty immediately opened the border to civilian traffic and led to the exchange of ambassadors within weeks. Israel transferred small areas of disputed land to Jordanian sovereignty, and the two governments established a joint water committee to manage allocations from the Yarmouk and Jordan rivers. Economic contacts expanded, with Israeli tourists visiting Jordanian sites such as Petra, though popular opposition within Jordan limited the pace of deeper integration.
Legacy
The agreement has remained in force for more than three decades, providing a durable framework for security coordination against shared threats and sustained, if sometimes tense, diplomatic and economic ties. It demonstrated that bilateral deals could advance even when broader multilateral talks stalled and served as a precedent for later Arab-Israeli normalization efforts. Historians view it as a pragmatic achievement rooted in mutual strategic interests rather than comprehensive resolution of the wider conflict.
Why It Matters
The treaty has endured as a cornerstone of regional stability, enabling security coordination and economic ties despite periodic strains. It demonstrated that bilateral agreements could advance even amid broader Arab-Israeli tensions and set a model for subsequent normalization efforts.
Related Questions
Why did Jordan sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1994?
After the Oslo Accords reduced Jordan's leverage on the Palestinian issue and amid U.S. incentives including debt relief, King Hussein chose to normalize relations to secure strategic and economic benefits.
What were the treaty's main provisions on borders and water?
It defined the international boundary along the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers and Dead Sea, with special arrangements for certain enclaves, and committed Israel to supply Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water annually.
How did the treaty affect everyday relations between the two countries?
Borders opened to tourism and trade, ambassadors were exchanged, and limited economic cooperation began, though popular sentiment in Jordan remained cautious.
What role did the United States play in the agreement?
President Clinton personally witnessed both the July declaration and the October signing, and the U.S. provided Jordan with substantial debt forgiveness as part of the diplomatic package.
Has the treaty remained stable over time?
Yes, it has endured through multiple Israeli and Jordanian governments, serving as a foundation for ongoing security coordination despite occasional diplomatic strains.
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Sources
- Israel–Jordan peace treaty, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-07-06.