'No obligation to provide': Israel accused of withholding water from Jordan

What Happened

Israel has not renewed an extended water supply agreement with Jordan, according to reports by Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 and Ynet on Monday. The 2021 agreement increased Israel's water supply to Jordan to 100 million cubic meters per year for a three-year period, supplementing the 50 million cubic meters already mandated by the 1994 peace treaty. Since 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu's government has only extended the deal by six-month increments, and now refuses to renew it, citing a dry year and the need to fill Israeli reservoirs for farmers. A Jordanian official told Kan 11 that water is 'very important to us' and part of the peace agreement, expressing fear that Israel is using the supply as a bargaining chip. An Israeli official countered that Israel continues to supply the treaty-mandated quantities but has 'no obligation to provide additional quantities,' adding that 'when you help your neighbours, you expect warmer relations.' The United Arab Emirates has proposed a trilateral summit in Abu Dhabi with the energy ministers of Israel, Jordan, and the UAE to address the water agreement and revive a joint desalination plant project. Relations between Israel and Jordan have deteriorated significantly since the Gaza war, with Jordan recalling its ambassador in November 2023 and King Abdullah II issuing a decree last week officially ending the ambassador's mission without a replacement.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The dispute highlights the deepening strain in Israeli-Jordanian relations following the Gaza war, as water becomes a political lever rather than a technical cooperation issue. Jordan, one of the most water-scarce nations, depends heavily on Israeli supplies, and the breakdown of this arrangement could destabilize the kingdom and undermine the 1994 peace treaty. The UAE's mediation signals broader regional concern over the alliance's fragility, while the linkage to Palestinian issues underscores the interconnectedness of regional diplomacy.

Watch For

Monitor whether the proposed UAE-mediated summit materializes and if a new water agreement is reached. Watch for any Jordanian diplomatic retaliation, such as further downgrading of ties or public statements linking water to Palestinian statehood. Observe if Israel faces domestic pressure from its agricultural sector amid drought, and whether international bodies or other mediators intervene.