The Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was signed at the southern border crossing of Wadi Araba on October 26, 1994. It symbolized one of the world’s most famous water – sharing agreements – in addition to making Jordan the only Arab country after Egypt to normalize relations with Israel. The Jordanian – Israeli Peace Treaty is part of the efforts towards joint management of water resources

Manna, Maya

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Water and the Treaty of Peace between Israel and Jordan

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUMacro Center Working Papers Center For Macro Projects and Diplomacy4-1-2006Water and the Treaty of Peace between Israel andJordanMaya MannaRoger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/cmpd_working_papersPart of the International Relations CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center For Macro Projects and Diplomacy at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted forinclusion in Macro Center Working Papers by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationManna, Maya, "Water and the Treaty of Peace between Israel and Jordan" (2006). Macro Center Working Papers. Paper 33.http://docs.rwu.edu/cmpd_working_papers/33Water and the Treaty of Peace between Isra~land JordanThe deficit of water resources in the Jordan River region is quite profound: 'Water levels ared:t:opping,groundwater resources are being mined, salinization and salt water intrusion areobserved and the domestic water supply does not reach adequate standards." Moreover, Jordan,Israel and the Palestinians are presently over-exploiting their water resources by between 10 and20%.1 To remedy this crisis situation, it is proposed that Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians movetoward: the reduction of water demand for irrigation, the desalinization of sea water, and theimportation of water from water-rich countries like Turkey.2The history of water disputes continues all the way through the establishment of Israel. As a. result, water became a strategic and diplomatic issue that periodically threatened to bring thecountry to blows with its neighbors. Bernard Wasserstein notes that disputes over the Jordanwaters played a significant part in the descent to the SixDay War of 1967.3This war illustrateshow essential the water management is in the region and how poorly this issue has beenaddressed. The Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordanis one of the exceptional examples of cooperation between Israelis and Arabs. It has been studiedand watched closely by many scholars and politicians. So far, water management in the regionhas not fulfilled all the objectives stated in the treaty, but those changes that have been done areThe Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was signedat the southern border crossing of Wadi Araba on October 26,1994. It symbolized one of theworld's most famous water-sharing agreements - in addition to making Jordan the only Arabcountry after Egypt to normalize relations with Israel. The Jordanian-Israeli Peace Treaty is partof the efforts towards joint management of water resources. It includes the followingarrangements: Twenty million m3 (cubic meter) 4 of Yarmouk water will be stored by Israel in the1 AQUASTAT:FAG's InformationSystemonWaterandAgriculture.Land andWaterDevelopmentDivision:Jordan. 1997.2 AQUASTAT.3 Wasserstein,Bernard.Israelis and Palestinians: Why Do They Fight? Can They Stop? (New Haven:YaleUP, 2003), pg 52.4 1 cubicmeter is equivalentto 264.l7205gallons.lake outside the summer season for Jordan until the construction of a desalinization plant;construction of storage facilities on the Yannouk and Jordan rivers and groundwater potential inWadi Araba are under investigation; 50 million m of drinking water should be further allocatedto Jordan through cooperation between both parties.sMunther Haddadin, former water minister of Jordan, played a key role in designing andnegotiating the basic elements of the treaty. In an interview with the Unesco Courier journalistAmy Otchet, he claimed it was not an easy agreement to achieve6." This civil engineer with apenchant for intemationallaw offers subtler, yet no less demanding lessons learned fromhammering out the historic water treaty with Israel. "The trick is to try to transform the entire·show into a positive sum game, so that both sides view themselves as winners," he says. "A. major concession on our part was the recognition of Israel. I had to make the Israelis feel securebut at the same time use this weakness as a card in my sleeve7." Judging from his words, it is easyto see how the Treaty between Israel and Jordan was a complex and slow process, and yet was aviable option for both states in the end.Jordan and Israel looked for different outcomes while signing this treaty. If for Jordan it meantreceiving a sufficient annual amount of water from Israel, for Israel it meant receiving Jordanianrecognition of it as a state. Alvin Rouyer in his book Structural Flows in the Middle East PeaceProcess: Historical Contexts mentions that for Jordan, the key economic objectives have been and.remain defensive: to avert a sudden attack on the dinar, to retain Palestinian capital in the hosteconomy, and to avoid the sudden exposure of inefficient industries to competition.8 Therefore,these underlying concerns force strategic choices concerning the balance between cooperationand competition with the rising Palestinian and Israeli entities. At the same time, for Israel, stablerelations with the region's commercial sectors are "crucial for its planned transformation from astate-dominated economy to one that can better appeal to domestic and foreign investors."9 Theauthor concludes that while regional economic insertion would enhance Israel's long-term goals,5 AQUASTAT.6 AmyOtchet, "A JordanianFireExtinguisher",The Unesco Courier,pg 22<http://unesdoc.unesco.org/imagesJ0012/00l2371123798e.pdf>.7 Otchet 22.8 Rouyer,AlvinR. J.WWright,Jr., ed. StructuralFlows in the MiddleEast Peace Process:HistoricalContexts.(NewYork:Palgrave,2002),49.9 Rouyer 50.improving immediate trade relations with the West Bank and Gaza and opening its borders toJordan involved short-term costs.1OThis brief overview of economic perspectives of the twocountries further explains the obstacles their governments had to straighten up before signing thetreaty. However, for both countries signing the treaty meant significant improvement of theirrelationship and establishing official diplomatic bonds. In a vulnerable re~on such as the MiddleEast, having stable, peaceful relations with a neighboring country means a lot.In 1955, all of the states along the Jordan River: Jordan, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Syria,Lebanon, had already agreed to their rightful share of water in a plan drawn up with theassistance of an American diplomat. Haddadin explains that the weakness of the agreement wasthe fact that lithe technical resolution wasn't translated into a political accord because it wouldentail tacit Arab recognition of the state of Israe1."11Egypt, however, broke this taboo underAnwar Sadat. This action of one of the Arabic states encouraged Israel to search for the furtherrecognition among its neighbors, therefore, it turned to Jordan whose weakness was watersupply and loss of its share of the Yarmouk River to Syria and Israel. For this reason, Otchet callswater "a bridge in opening discussions between the two states.12It was not until 1991 that theformal peace process began and Haddadin began forming major water-sharing proposals. It tookthree years for both sides to come up with a compromise that could to some extent satisfy theirobjectives.13Article 6 of the Treaty is entitled simply 'Water Resources' arid is considered to be one of themost exceptional agreements considering the fact that the two nations had been formally in astate of war for nearly half a century. It is devoted lito achieving a comprehensive and lastingsettlement of all the water problems between Israel and Jordan."14It represents the firstagreement of this kind signed between Israel and any of its neighbors. Article 6 contains five10Ibid., 5l.IIOtcbet22.12Ibid.13 Ibid.14 Israel-JordanPeaceTreaty,Article6,<bttp://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20tbe%20Peace%20Process/Israel-Jordan%20Peace%20Treaty>.paragraphs that each constitute extremely important points and contribute to peaceful resolutionof the water debate.Paragraph one ensures the mutual recognition of "rightful allocations" in the surface waters ofthe Jordan and Yarmouk rivers as well as the underground water of the Arava Valley. lbis valleylies on either of the Rift Valley, south of the Dead Sea. The territory of this valley has been one of.the main issues of land debate between the two countries. The Peace Treaty established theborders to resolve this debate: about one-third of the valley lies in Israel and two-thirds inJordan.1sIsrael and Jordan have agreed on allocations of water from the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers andfrom Arava ground waters. Israel has agreed to transfer to Jordan 50 million cubic meters of waterannually from the northern part of the country. In addition the two countries have agreed tocooperate to alleviate the water shortage by developing existing and new water resources, bypreventing contamination of water resources, and by minimizing water wastage.l6 Paragraph twostates that each nation will provide such water management and development that does not "inany way harm the water resources of the other party."17 Paragraph three affirms that bothcountries have scarce water resources with respect to their needs and, therefore, they must bothsearch for regional and international cooperation to increase the supply.This rather ambiguous statement is further discussed in Paragraph four that claims: "water issuesalong their entire boundary must be dealt with in their totality, including the possibility of trans-boundary water transfers."18 It also calls for cooperation in developing water resources,preventing pollution, dealing with shortages, arid minimizing the usage of water throughrecycling and planned management. Finally, Paragraph five makes reference to Annex II,where"undertakings" for implementation are detailed.15Israel Jordan Peace Treaty, Article 6.16 Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty, "water", October 1994.<http://www.mfa.gov.illMFAfPeace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20ProcesslMain%20Points%20of'1020Israel-Jordan%20Peace%20Treaty>.17 Israel Jordan Peace Treaty, Article 6, Sec 2.\8 Israel Jordan Peace Treaty, Article 6, Sec 4.Three years later, in a ceremony held on May 27, 1997,King Hussein of Jordan marked thebeginning of the second stage of the Israel-Jordan water agreement, according to which Israel hasbegun to supply Jordan with 3000 cubic meters of water per hour.19During the ceremony, King Hussein praised the Israeli Prime Minister, Minister of NationalInfrastructures and Water Commissioner for their actions and their understanding of Jordanianwater problems. His speech expressed relative warming in Jordanian-Israeli relations andsignificant improvement of cooperation skills between representatives of the two countries.20The latest developments in the course of the life of this Treaty, is a review of the summerprogram, according to which Jordan receives an additional 25million cubic meters (mem) ofdrinking water from Lake Tiberias. The Jordan Times covered this event, and quoted Thafer Alem,secretary general of the Jordan Valley Authority, who said that the two sides will review thesummer program, which is a contingency program of 25mcm, starting on May 15 and endingOct. 15 each year21.This was agreed upon between Jordan and Israel until Israel can supply theKingdom with the full50mem of additional water stipulated in the 1994peace treaty. Accordingto the report, "the peace treaty stipulates that Israel is to supply Jordan with an additional watersource that is yet to be found. The issue is at the core of the controversy between the two sides."22The agreement says that Israel should supply Jordan with 25mems for three years until it sets upthe desalination plant. To date, however, Jordan continues to receive the additional water fromIsrael and the plant has not been established23.The main outcome of the treaty is known to be the normalization of relations between the twocountries and resolution of their territorial disputes. Its signing is closely linked with the effortsto establish peace and stability between Israel and Palestine. One of the main positiveexternalities of the treaty is known to be the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement of 28September 1995also known as "Oslo II" that set out an agreed basis for cooperation and further19"(14 Ministryof ForeignMfairs StatementonWaterAgreementwith Jordan," IsraelMinistryof ForeignAffairs.May 27, 1997.2°"114Ministryof ForeignAffairs Statement..."21Jordan Times, "Jordan, Israel to reviewwater-sharingagreements."Sep4, 2001.<http://www.jordanembassyus.org/09042001003.htm>.22Ibid.23 Ibid.negotiation on water. Bernard Wasserstein, in his book Israelis and Palestinians: Why Do TheyFight? Can They Stop?, quoted the opening statement of principle of the Oslo II, stating'Israel recognizes the Palestinian water rights in the West Bank.' Although full realizationof these rights was postponed for negotiation in the permanent status agreement,practical arrangements were nevertheless concluded that settled many outstandingissues. Israeltransferred to the Palestinian Authority administration of water andsewerage in the areas under its control. The two sides agreed to coordinate themanagement of water and sewerage resources and systems. The agreement stated thatthe Palestinians in the West Bank were to have access to additional water, in specifiedquantities and places and where necessary by new infrastructure, from the easternbranch of the inland aquifer.24Thus we see that, from this treaty and the reactions of scholars and political leaders in bothcountries, as well as political analysts in the western world, implementing a treaty is never asimple matter, especially when the basic amenity of life-water-is brought into conflict with thepolitical interests of two parties who have had a history of disagreement. There is hope, however,as is evident from the quoted text above: what is required to meet the basic needs of the people,who at this moment suffer a lack ofwater, is the development" and implementation of sewagetreatment and additional water supplies. These requirements can be met by the signatory statesin conjunction with d~velopmental bodies and financing bodies, like the World Bank."114Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Water Agreement with Jordan." Israel Ministry ofForeign Affairs, May 271997..<http://www.mfa.gov.illMF A/ForeignORelationS/Israels20Foreign20RelationsOsince20l947/1996-1997/11420Ministry200f20Foreign 20Affairs20statement200n20W ater>.Al Farawati, aula. "Jordan, Israel to Review Water-Sharing Agreements." Jordan Times, Sep 4,2001.<http://www.jordanembassyus.orgl0904200l003.htm>.AQUASTAT: FAa's Information System on Water and Agriculture. Land and WaterDevelopment Division: Jordan. 1997.<http://www .fao.org/aglagl/aglw /aquastat/countries/jordan/index.stm>."Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oct 26, 1994.<http://www.mfa.gov.il/MF A/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Israel-Jordan%20Peace%20Treaty>.Jordan Times, "Jordan, Israel to review water-sharing agreements" Sep 4, 200l.<http://www.jordanembassyus.org/09042001003.htm> .Lonergan, Stephen C, David B. Brooks. Watershed: The Role of Fresh Water in the Israeli-PalestinianConflict. Ottawa: Intemational Development Research Centre, 1994.<http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29785-201-1-DO _TOPIChtm1>."Main Points of Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oct 26, 1994,·<http://www.mfa.gov.i1/MF AjPeace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Main%20Points%20of%20Israel-Jordan %20Peace%20Treaty>.Otchet, Amy. "A Jordanian Fire Extinguisher: An Insider's View on One of the Most HistoricWater Agreements ever Signed - The Deal between Israel and Jordan." The UnescoCourier. Sep 11, 2001. <http://unesdoc.unesco.orglimages/0012/001237/123798e.pdf>.Raines Ward, Diane. Water Wars: Drought, Flood, Folly, and the Politics of Thirst. New York:Penguin, 2002.Rouyer, Alvin R. J.W Wright, Jr., ed. Structural Flows in the Middle East Peace Process: HistoricalContexts. New York: Palgrave, 2002.Wasserstein, Bemard. Israelis and Palestinians: Why Do They Fight? Can They Stop? New Haven:Yale UP, 2003. <http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001237 /123798e.pdf>.·"Water in the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty." IDRC Books. <http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29785-201-1-DO_TOPIChtm1>."What led to the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty in 1994?" Palestine Facts. 2006.<http://www.palestinefacts.org/pC1991to_now _israeljordan_ treaty. php>.

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Water and the Treaty of Peace between Israel and Jordan

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