Report: Israel Refuses to Renew Water Agreement with Jordan

SadaNews - Israel refuses to re-ratify an agreement that allows for the provision of additional water quantities at reduced prices for Jordan's share stipulated in the Wadi Araba Agreement, a step that provokes anger in Amman, amid estimates that the kingdom may respond to the refusal to renew the agreement. According to what the Israeli public broadcast authority "Kan 11" reported on Monday evening, the agreement, whose fundamental principles were included in the Wadi Araba Agreement, has not yet been signed, while sources speaking to the authority indicated that there is currently no expected date for signing. Jordan has not issued an official comment on the non-renewal of the agreement related to adding water quantities to the kingdom. However, a Jordanian source described by "Kan 11" as "close to the authorities" stated that "the issue of water is extremely important for us, and it is also part of the peace agreement." These statements reflect, according to the report, the dissatisfaction on the Jordanian side regarding the transformation of the water file, which for most years of the "peace agreement" remained a separate issue from political disputes, into a bargaining chip from an Israeli perspective. Jordan is suffering from a severe water crisis, making the agreement with Israel particularly significant for the kingdom as it needs additional quantities of water to address the existing shortage. The report indicated that Jordan is also working behind the scenes on this file. "Kan 11" had mentioned last March that Jordanian King Abdullah II conditioned holding a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a series of demands related to the Palestinian issue, as well as on renewing the agreement to provide Jordan with additional water quantities. Israel's refusal to renew the agreement comes at a time of ongoing political tension with Jordan due to the Israeli war on Gaza and the Palestinian file, while the water file represents one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two sides, due to its direct connection to the peace agreement and Jordan's basic needs. Under the peace agreement signed between the two parties in 1994, Israel supplies 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, for one cent (1 dollar = 100 cents) per cubic meter. In July 2021, Jordan and Israel reached an agreement under which the latter supplies the kingdom with an additional 50 million cubic meters of purchased water, based on an agreement signed between them in 2010, which stemmed from the "Wadi Araba" agreement signed in 1994. Under the current arrangements, Israel supplies Jordan with 100 million cubic meters of water annually, which includes 50 million cubic meters stipulated in the peace agreement and an additional 50 million cubic meters provided under subsequent understandings and different price and payment mechanism conditions.