Jerusalem’s refusal to extend a water agreement with Amman until it changes its rhetoric on Israel will likely be interpreted by Amman as a “stab in the back” after the support Jordan gave to Israel during the Iran war, Dr. Ronen Yitzhak, an expert in Israeli-Jordanian relations from the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
The 1994 peace treaty signed by Amman and Jerusalem required Israel to supply Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water annually, an amount doubled in a commitment made in 2021 which expired in 2025.
After a series of extensions, Jerusalem conditioned the resumption of supply on Amman softening its rhetoric on Israel and on the thawing of relations, which grew increasingly hostile over the course of the Israel-Hamas war.
Yitzhak said the disagreement “reflects the political crisis between the countries,” but added that the issue was not surprising given Amman’s “fear” of Israeli annexation of the West Bank and the potential imposition of sovereignty, including “changing the status quo on the Temple Mount.”
Jordan is furious about Israel’s continued refusal to renew a 2021 water agreement between the two neighbors, the Kan public broadcaster reported Monday.
Peace treaty mandates Israel supply Jordan with water
The 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan mandates that Jerusalem supply 50 million cubic meters annually to its eastern neighbor. In 2021, during the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid government, Israel agreed to double the amount of fresh water it provides to Jordan, one of the world’s most water-deficient countries.
The 2021 agreement expired in late 2025 after a series of extensions, though Israel still supplies the initial 50 million cubic meters laid out in the peace treaty. Israel reportedly conditioned the supply of the additional volume on Jordan moderating its rhetoric toward Israel and restoring full diplomatic ties.
A Jordanian source close to the royal family told Israeli broadcaster Kan that “The water issue is very important to us, and is part of the peace treaty.”
Ynet reported that an Israeli official told the site that though there was no legal obligation for Israel to provide Jordan with water, “there is goodwill between the two countries.”
“Jordan needs the water, but when you help your neighbors, you expect warmer relations,” the official said. “If there is a meeting, everything will be on the table – normalization, water, and strengthening bilateral ties.”
Though the unnamed official said that the exchange of the vital resource might lead to the expectation of warmer ties, Yitzhak pointed out that Amman has provided Israel with support some might consider more significant than softened public statements.
Jordan acts in defense of Israel during Iran war
Jordan has previously shot down Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel above its sovereign airspace.
“The timing of the Israeli announcement not to renew the agreement is not good for Jordan because it comes at the height of the war with Iran and the aid that Jordan gave to Israel during the war. Public opinion in Jordan did not like Jordan’s support for the United States and Israel in the war against Iran, and now that this news has been published in Jordan, they feel like they have been stabbed in the back,” Yitzhak explained.
“They supported Israel against Iran, and now Israel is returning evil for good. This is another card for those opposed to Israel in Jordan.”
Israel’s reported demands that Amman soften its statements on Jerusalem are being interpreted as “blackmail,” he continued. Should Amman now comply with Israel’s request, it will be seen as “selling support for Palestinians” in exchange for water, an exchange that would be heavily criticized in a country comprised of a population where upwards of 50% are estimated to be of Palestinian origin.
Jordan is considered to be one of the most water-scarce countries globally, according to the United States Commerce Department. Jordan currently has 61 cubic meters of renewable freshwater available per capita per year, and its situation is only worsening due to population growth, economic development, and unsustainable agriculture.
“Ultimately, this will not harm the strategic cooperation between the countries, but it expresses the political crisis that exists between them,” Yitzhak predicted.
“I assume that behind the scenes, in discreet and secret talks, the issue will be resolved because Israel also has an interest in maintaining the stability of the Jordanian regime, and harming the water supply could create tension and unrest in Jordan and strengthen opponents of peace within Jordan.”
