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Cold Peace between Israel and Jordan Has Its Advantages
(Israel Hayom) Ariel Kahana - On Saturday, Israel marked the 25th anniversary of the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan. Yet the Jordanian people are generally hostile toward Israel and the Jordanian government often lambastes Israel publicly. At the same time, Israel offers Jordan the strategic backing it needs to deal with the threats it faces. It supports the preservation of Jordan as the Hashemite Kingdom, sells it natural gas at floor rates, provides it with significant water supply, and enables European goods heading to Jordan to pass through Haifa port. The current situation is far from ideal. But every public step King Abdullah takes to signal warming ties with Israel is met with scathing domestic criticism, to the point of rattling the throne. At a time when the Jordanian economy is faltering, Syrian refugees are flocking to its borders by the millions, Iran is breathing down the kingdom's neck, terrorist organizations are flourishing, and the majority in Jordan is Palestinian - not Hashemite, Abdullah must choose his battles. Given the regional circumstances, any collaboration with Israel is proof that peace is alive and kicking.