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At a time when Jordan is facing one of the worst water crises in its history, the outlines of an Israeli policy are emerging that increasingly links the supply of water to the kingdom with the level of relations and normalization between the two sides.
A report in the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" highlights widespread anger in Jordan, which considers the water issue to be part of the obligations stipulated in the peace agreement, and not a tool for political blackmail, amid reports of an Emirati role to try to contain a crisis that is heading towards escalation.
Statements by Israeli officials and Hebrew media reports reveal that the Israeli government no longer views water as a technical or humanitarian issue, but rather uses it as a means of pressure to push Jordan to improve its relations with Tel Aviv, in light of the unprecedented tension that bilateral relations have witnessed since the outbreak of the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli official said that Tel Aviv continues to supply Jordan with the quantities of water it is obligated to provide under the peace agreement, but is not obligated to provide additional quantities.
He added: "If good intentions prevail, we will provide them with water." The Israeli official did not hide the political dimension of the issue, as he confirmed that any future meeting with Jordan would include all issues, including normalization, explaining that the water issue would be raised "as a tool to strengthen relations."
He added: "The Jordanians are angry and under a lot of pressure and desperately need water, but when you help your neighbors you expect an improvement in relations. They don't have an ambassador in Israel, and if a meeting is held, all issues will be discussed, including normalization."
According to observers, these statements reflect a clear Israeli tendency to link Jordan’s water needs to the level of political relations, which Jordan considers a departure from the spirit of the Wadi Araba Agreement.
A source close to the Jordanian government confirmed to the Hebrew-language "Kan" channel that "the water issue is extremely important for Jordan, and it is an integral part of the peace agreement."
According to Jordanian sources, the Kingdom is deeply frustrated because the water issue, which for years has been a pillar of the implementation of the peace agreement, has turned into an Israeli bargaining chip.
Jordan believes that delaying the renewal of the agreement regarding additional water quantities exacerbates the water crisis within the Kingdom and increases tension in bilateral relations.
Reports indicate that Jordan has not received the additional water quantities for about 8 months, after Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen refused to renew the agreement since November 2025.
The crisis comes at a time when Jordan is suffering from chronic water scarcity, ranking as the second most water-poor country in the world.
The crisis has worsened in recent years due to limited natural water resources, climate change, successive years of drought, a large population increase, and the hosting of millions of refugees, especially from Syria.
The annual deficit between water supply and demand is estimated at about 500 million cubic meters, making securing additional water sources a strategic priority for the Kingdom.
Under the peace treaty signed in 1994, Israel supplies Jordan with 50 million cubic meters of water annually free of charge.
In 2021, the Israeli government signed an additional agreement to supply Jordan with an additional 50 million cubic meters annually at preferential prices for three years.
Amman later sought to extend the agreement for an additional five years, increasing the quantity to 80 million cubic meters per year, but Israel declined to renew.
According to Israeli reports, Energy Minister Eli Cohen was renewing the agreement for periods not exceeding six months, and after repeated hesitation, before he stopped extending it since late 2025.
The Israeli narrative reveals that the decision not to extend the agreement was not only related to the drought crisis, but also to Jordanian political positions.
According to Israeli reports, the United States had previously pressured Tel Aviv to agree to supply Jordan with water, and Jordan’s contribution to intercepting Iranian drones played a role in convincing the Israeli government to temporarily extend the agreement.
However, the same reports indicate that one of the reasons for Israeli hesitation is the continued sharp criticism of Israel by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, especially since the outbreak of the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli circles view Safadi as one of the most prominent Arab officials leading a diplomatic and political campaign against the Israeli government in international forums, as he continues to accuse Israel of committing serious violations against the Palestinians and calls for a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid, in addition to his ongoing demand to end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state.
Israeli circles believe that these positions have contributed to increasing tension with Amman, which, according to Hebrew reports, has been reflected in bilateral cooperation files, most notably the water file.
The water crisis comes amid the worst political crisis between the two sides since the signing of the peace treaty.
Since November 2023, there has been no Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv, and there has been no Israeli ambassador in Amman since October 7, 2023, which reflects the extent of the political and diplomatic tension.
Israel accuses Jordan of freezing normalization steps, while Amman asserts that the continuation of the war on Gaza and Israeli violations makes it difficult to restore relations to normal.
In contrast, Israel is considering an initiative to hold a trilateral energy summit with the participation of Jordan and the UAE, amid reports of an Emirati role in providing a "goodwill umbrella" to bring viewpoints closer.
According to the proposal, the summit will discuss a new agreement to supply Jordan with an additional 50 million cubic meters of water, in addition to the quantities stipulated in the peace agreement.
The parties will also discuss the “Prosperity” project, which involves the construction of an Israeli desalination plant to supply Israel and Jordan with water, in exchange for Jordan building a solar power plant to supply both countries with electricity.
In addition to technical matters, the summit will also discuss ways to improve political relations and restore diplomatic communication channels, in an attempt to contain the escalating tension between the two countries.
While Israel insists that any additional cooperation should be met with an improvement in political relations, Jordan maintains that water is a right guaranteed by international agreements and the peace treaty, and refuses to turn it into a tool of pressure or political bargaining, at a time when the Kingdom’s need for every drop of water is increasing to confront one of its most serious water crises.
