Israel and Jordan signed their Treaty of Peace on October 26, 1994. It ended the state of war and fixed the border. It also set rules for security and water. The treaty survived the Second Intifada, repeated Gaza wars, and the Syrian civil war. It also survived strong public opposition to Israel within Jordan.
The relationship is often called a cold peace. The two governments work together, but broad public warmth has not followed. The states have not returned to war. The treaty’s main bodies also continue to operate.
What the treaty settled
The treaty and its annexes define the border. It runs through the Jordan and Yarmouk river areas, the Dead Sea, the Arava or Wadi Araba, and the Gulf of Aqaba. The texts also set joint rules for border work, water, and security. Readers can check the main treaty, Annex I on the boundary, and Annex II on water.
These terms turned a peace pledge into regular government work. Officials had to manage the border and divide water. Both states also accepted security duties and recognition. The treaty gave them rules for doing that work.
Why this counts as land for peace
The land deal was far smaller than Israel’s return of Sinai to Egypt. It still settled real border questions. It also created special-use terms for Jordanian land used by Israelis. Above all, it turned Israel’s longest Arab border into an agreed line.
The land terms were limited, but they had legal and strategic weight. Jordan belongs in the land-for-peace record. It should not be described as another Sinai.
Why the peace endured
Jordan and Israel both want to avoid war. They must also share scarce water and secure a long border. War and unrest in Syria and Iraq made joint work more useful. These needs remained when public words became harsh.
The State Department’s Madrid Conference overview traces the talks before the treaty. By 1994, years of direct talks had built a base for agreement.
Why it is still a cold peace
Lasting peace does not mean popular peace. Many Jordanians oppose ties with Israel. Wars in Gaza repeatedly strain the official bond.
Special land-use deals covered Baqura or Naharayim and Al-Ghamr or Tzofar. They show both strain and strength. Jordan used its treaty right to end the deals in 2018 and 2019. News reports and later CRS summaries called this a serious dispute. The wider peace treaty stayed in force.
What can carry forward
The Jordan treaty is a lasting peace between two states. Its land terms were limited, but its daily work is broad. Border rules, security duties, and water sharing helped the deal survive without warm public ties. Other conflicts may lack agreed borders, clear leaders, or control over armed forces. The Jordan model cannot simply be copied in those settings.