Watan-Jordan has requested from Israel an extension of their water agreement for an additional year, while Tel Aviv has expressed its willingness to extend the water agreement between Jordan and Israel.
This was revealed according to Israeli media, which stated that Tel Aviv stipulated that officials in Amman should tone down their explicit criticisms of Israel.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation “Kan” clarified that Tel Aviv also demanded the return of the ambassadors to their positions in order to extend the agreement. Jordan had recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv after the start of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Threat
It is noted that in January of last year, Israeli reports revealed that Tel Aviv had threatened not to extend the water agreement between Jordan and Israel, following strong criticisms by Jordanian officials of the destructive Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The peace agreement signed between the two parties in 1994 includes Israel supplying Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water annually from the Sea of Galilee, which is transported through the King Abdullah Canal to the kingdom, in exchange for one cent per cubic meter.
However, Jordan’s stance on the Israeli war on Gaza prompted Israel to try to pressure Amman.
Non-Renewal of the Water Agreement
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation noted that Tel Aviv is considering not renewing the water agreement between Jordan and Israel due to Amman’s rejection of the war on Gaza, as stated by senior officials, including Queen Rania and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
In July 2021, Jordan and Israel reached an agreement whereby the latter would supply the kingdom with 50 million cubic meters of additional purchased water, under an agreement signed between them in 2010, stemming from the “Wadi Araba” peace treaty signed in 1994.
While Jordan, the UAE, and Israel signed a “declaration of intent” in 2021 to enter into negotiations to explore the feasibility of a joint project to exchange energy for water, the ongoing war in Gaza since October 7th last year has prevented the signing of an agreement by late 2023.
On November 16th last year, Amman decided not to sign the agreement after the Israeli occupation army targeted the vicinity of the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza, injuring 7 of its staff.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation stated that the final decision to not extend the agreement has not yet been made, and it depends on the development of relations with Jordan and how Jordanians will express their position towards the war in the near future.
It added that if the agreement is not extended, it will expire this year.