Peace Process & Final Status Agreement
Palestinian - Israeli Conflict
Refugees
Settlements
Jerusalem
Iraq
Greater Middle East Initiative
Jordan and Human Rights
Campaign against terrorism
Syrian and Lebanon

The early 1990s marked a watershed period in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Second Gulf War redefined the balance of power in the region, reshuffled inter-Arab relations and demonstrated once again the need to work toward a just and comprehensive regional peace.

In this respect the Madrid Peace conference of October 1991 was a historic event in which all parties to the conflict were joined by a common desire to negotiate peacefully and directly to arrive to a settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The change of government in Israel in 1992 and the new Labor Government's position regarding recognition of the PLO that lead to the signing of the PLO-Israel Declaration of Principles released Jordan from the major Israeli constraint that had been focused on it for years - the Jordanian option as an alternative to recognizing the PLO. The acceptance by Israel, under the Labor government of the late Prime Minister Rabin, of the Palestinian political identity and the recognition of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people opened the way for a new and groundbreaking relationship between Palestinians and Israelis. Once the Palestinians had gone their independent path with the Israelis at Oslo and signed the PLO-Israeli Declaration of Principles on September 13th, 1993 in Washington, Jordan initialed the Common Agenda with Israel on September 14th. The King stressed in an address to the nation on October 12th 1993 that Jordan "signed the Jordanian-Israeli agenda twenty-four hours after the Palestinian Israeli meeting in Washington, because we had refused to sign it before we saw clear and tangible progress on the Palestinian-Israeli level.". The Jordanian-Israeli Peace treaty signed in the presence of President Clinton in Wadi Araba on October 26th 1994 came as a direct consequence of the Oslo accord. Jordan stood to gain immediate and long-term advantages of the treaty in terms of defining Jordan's borders with Israel conclusively for the first time, putting an end to regional political designs such as the suggestion that Jordan is Palestine, restoring Jordan's share of the Jordan's waters, stimulating economic growth and reiterating its commitment to refugee rights.

Former President Clinton ushers His Majesty the late King Hussein into the White House Rose Garden after the two leaders met in the Oval office.  (AP Photo/ Dennis Cook)

Jordan is not party to the final status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, except on the issue of refugees. Jordan houses 41% of the Palestinian refugees in the world, most of who hold Jordanian citizenship. The Peace Treaty with Israel affirms Jordan’s role in safeguarding the rights of its citizens of Palestinian origin.The Jordan-Israel treaty of peace offers a potentially ideal example to emulate. But it should always be understood that no peace can be achieved without an agreement with the Palestinians. Therefore, Jordan views progress on the Palestinian-Israeli track in particular as a source of strength and support for its own model of and vision for peace.

While the Jordan-Israel treaty of peace is solid and strong and constitutes an important core of comprehensive in the region, the ultimate objective for the realization of comprehensive peace that could ensure security and prosperity for all parties is based on securing peace treaties between Israel and all other Arab parties.

Additionally, a just and comprehensive peace in the region has also to include peace agreements with Syria and Lebanon, including the withdrawal of Israel from the Golan Heights to the June 4th 1967 borders.