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Can Jordan Revoke Its Peace Treaty with Israel?

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Amb. Alan Baker - Following warnings to Israel by King Abdullah of Jordan of a "massive conflict" if Israel proceeds with plans to apply Israeli law to parts of Judea and Samaria, some commentators raise the possibility that Jordan might revoke its Treaty of Peace with Israel. A peace treaty, by its very nature, is not limited by any specific time limit, and is not given to cancellation or revocation, unless by declaration of war or by an act of aggression by one of the parties. It is highly unlikely that Jordan would want to take such a step. A unilateral act by Israel of applying law or sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria, even if not favored by Jordan, would not constitute an act of aggression against Jordan's sovereignty or territorial integrity and as such would not be grounds for revoking the treaty. Some of the central components of the peace relationship represent interests that are vital to Jordan such as water allocations, economic relations, Jordan's special historic role in Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem, freedom of navigation and access to ports, and civil aviation and rights of overflight, including Jordanian overflight of Israeli territory to reach points in Europe. To cancel or revoke such vital components would not serve the interests of Jordan and would undermine its very stability. The writer, former legal adviser and deputy director-general of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in the negotiation and drafting of the peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, as well as the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians.
2020-05-20 00:00:00
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