The border between Israel and Jordan runs approximately 307 kilometers from the Gulf of Aqaba in the south to the tripoint with Syria in the north. For much of its length, it follows the Jordan River and the Dead Sea — natural features that have served as boundaries since antiquity. Three crossings connect the two countries, each with its own character, and the relationship between the neighbors is defined by water, security, and a peace that is real but never warm.
The Three Crossings
The Allenby Bridge (King Hussein Bridge), near Jericho, is the oldest and most heavily used crossing — named after the British general who crossed it in 1918. It is the only crossing available to Palestinian residents of the West Bank, their sole land gateway to the outside world. The Sheikh Hussein Bridge in the north, near Beit She’an, connects to the Jordanian city of Irbid. The Yitzhak Rabin crossing in the south, near Eilat and Aqaba, serves tourists heading to Petra and the Red Sea.
The Peace Treaty
The Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty was signed on October 26, 1994, in the Arava Valley near the southern border. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan, watched by President Bill Clinton, made Jordan the second Arab country — after Egypt — to make peace with Israel. The treaty resolved territorial disputes, established diplomatic relations, and created frameworks for cooperation in water, trade, and security. It also recognized Jordan’s special custodial role over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Water
Water is the most critical dimension of the relationship. The Jordan River, which gives its name to the country, has been reduced to a fraction of its natural flow — over 90 percent has been diverted by Israel, Jordan, and Syria for agriculture and drinking water. Under the peace treaty, Israel supplies Jordan with approximately 50 million cubic meters of water annually, a lifeline for one of the most water-scarce countries on earth. In 2021, the two governments agreed to double deliveries. A proposed “Prosperity” project envisions Israel selling Jordan 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water annually in exchange for Jordanian solar energy. Meanwhile, the Dead Sea — shared between the two countries — is shrinking by roughly a meter per year, one of the most visible environmental crises in the Middle East.
The Jordan Valley
The Jordan Valley, stretching from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, is one of the most strategically significant regions in the Middle East. For Israel, it serves as the eastern security barrier. For Palestinians, it is envisioned as part of a future state. For Jordan, the valley’s western bank is a permanent reminder of the war it lost in 1967. The tension between these three perspectives defines the politics of the region.
Naharayim: The Island of Peace
At the confluence of the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers in the north, an area called Naharayim (“Two Rivers”) was developed as a symbol of peace between Israel and Jordan. On March 13, 1997, a Jordanian soldier opened fire on a group of Israeli schoolgirls visiting the site, killing seven 13- and 14-year-olds. King Hussein flew to Israel, visited the bereaved families, and knelt before the grieving parents asking forgiveness — one of the most powerful human gestures in the history of the peace. In 2019, Jordan reclaimed full sovereignty over Naharayim when the 25-year lease expired.
A Cold Peace
The relationship between Israel and Jordan is often described as a cold peace. Diplomatic relations, security cooperation, and water-sharing continue, but public sentiment in Jordan — where a majority of the population is of Palestinian origin — is often hostile. The relationship was severely strained during the Gaza war beginning in October 2023, with Jordan recalling its ambassador. Yet behind the scenes, security coordination and water cooperation have largely continued, reflecting the pragmatic foundations of a partnership that neither side can afford to abandon.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Israel-Jordan border is not just a line on a map — it is a story of water, war, peace, and the complicated geography of coexistence. Hoshen Tours visits the baptism site at Qasr el-Yahud, where the river is so narrow you can see Jordan on the other bank, and tells the story of the peace treaty, the water crisis, and the island where a king knelt before grieving parents.