The escalating tension in relations between Israel and Jordan indicates the depth of the diplomatic crisis between the two sides, as it is no longer hidden that the personal relations between the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and King Abdullah II have worsened, as it was recently evident in Netanyahu's refusal to provide Jordan with water shares that he requested in accordance with the Wadi Araba Agreement.

The issue of water allocations was a link in a series of events that took place last year and increased tension between the two countries, especially following the launch of the normalization train and the signing of the "Abraham Agreement", and Netanyahu's hinting to proceed to remove the Jordanian Hashemite tutelage from administering holy sites in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.

Netanyahu sought to exert pressure on Jordan to make concessions on the Palestinian issue and the regional files, and bypass Amman in the normalization train, Netanyahu rejected Jordan's request to supply it with water, contrary to the position of the Water Authority in Tel Aviv and the Israeli security establishment, which recommended responding to Jordan's request, according to what a newspaper reported. Haaretz. "

Military analyst at Haaretz newspaper, Amos Harel, quoted Israeli and Jordanian security sources as saying that "Netanyahu did not respond to the Jordanian request to supply him with water," as Netanyahu's approach reflects "the depth of the crisis between the two countries, which has become more like a personal confrontation between Netanyahu and King Abdullah." According to the estimates of the military analyst.

Netanyahu's refusal comes, contrary to the provisions included in the Araba Valley Agreement signed between the two countries in 1994, and the accompanying amendments in 1997, whereby Tel Aviv pledged to pump water from Lake Tiberias to the Jordan River to increase the shares of water it supplies to Jordan.

Lake Tiberias, from which Israel pledged to pump water to Jordan (Al-Jazeera)

Netanyahu and King Abdullah

Israeli analysts expressed concern about Netanyahu's moves and approach, and the escalation of tension between the two countries.

According to them, "Netanyahu deliberately threatens the stability of the peace agreements due to the personal enmity between him and King Abdullah, and ignores the great strategic value of Israel from its relations with Amman."

The tension between the two countries was evident, after Jordan prevented Netanyahu's plane crossing its airspace and was forced to cancel his visit to the UAE, days before the Knesset elections that took place last week.

Amman’s position on preventing the Emirati plane, which landed at Alia International Airport, from traveling to Tel Aviv to transport Netanyahu to Abu Dhabi, after the Jordanian Crown Prince, Hussein bin Abdullah II, canceled his visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of Al-Isra and Al-Mi'raj, after it placed Tel Aviv Several conditions and security arrangements prevent the Jordanian delegation from accompanying the crown prince during his visit to Jerusalem.

Threat to stability

Military analyst Harel said that relations between Netanyahu and King Abdullah have been strained for years.

But it surfaced recently, despite the occasional telephone conversation between the two sides.

The tension in relations between Netanyahu and King Abdullah dates back to the summer of 2017, when a severe crisis prevailed between the two sides after Israel installed electronic gates in front of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A guard at the Israeli Embassy in Amman killed two Jordanian citizens.

King Abdullah at the time agreed to release the Israeli guard.

But he became angry after Netanyahu celebrated this release and celebrated the guard's return to Tel Aviv, and took pictures with him.

Harel cited statements attributed to Netanyahu recently during his election campaign, where he said that "the Jordanians need us much more than we need them," and Harel indicated that "the Israeli security establishment does not agree with this approach, and rejects it altogether, and considers Jordan an important ally for Israel's security."

Netanyahu adopts a provocative policy towards Jordan, even with the estimation of the Israeli security and military establishment (Al-Jazeera)

Crisis of confidence and disagreements

For his part, Nimrod Goren, director of the Israeli Institute "Mitvim" which specializes in foreign policies for Israel and the Middle East, believes that the tension in relations between Tel Aviv and Amman is due to many years of personal differences between Netanyahu and King Abdullah, who has expressed in statements on several occasions that he does not trust the prime minister Israeli Netanyahu.

But despite the crisis of trust and the tense relationship between the two leaders, Jorn tells Al Jazeera Net, "The professional, security, diplomatic and economic institutions of the two countries continued to work and coordinate, while it was clear that the Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, who met King Abdullah II in his palace, and the meetings of Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi with his counterpart Jordanian Ayman Safadi, all of which were steps to strengthen and fortify relations between the two countries after problems and differences surfaced.

Despite the worsening of relations between the two countries due to the person of Netanyahu, Gorn ruled out that the tension in relations between the two countries would lead to King Abdullah's suspension of the peace agreement with Israel.

He pointed out that "the Israeli professional levels are seriously aware of the strategic importance and position of Jordan for Israel, as this role cannot be dispensed with, even if relations between Tel Aviv and more Arab and Islamic countries are normalized."

Gorn expresses his fear of Netanyahu uniqueness of power, and his control of the joints of decisions in the security, military and diplomatic institutions that have close working relations with Jordan, and he points to the importance of the intervention of US President Joe Biden and European countries that have strong relations with Jordan in order to stop the escalation of tension between Netanyahu and King Abdullah, And avoid the possibility of the collapse of relations between the two countries.

King Abdullah II's visit to the lands recaptured from Israel reflected the tension between the two sides (Al-Jazeera - Archive)

Strategic importance to Jordan

The same argument is adopted by the Israeli researcher, who specializes in Arab and Palestinian affairs, Yoav Stern, who believes that the essence and content of relations between Jordan and Israel has always been secret and hidden, and we do not hear or even know the truth and nature of these strong, solid and deep relations to the greatest extent, which reflects the common interest of the two countries.

Stern explains to Al-Jazeera Net that any confusion in relations due to Netanyahu's approach and practices was contained before he went out to the public.

However, problems ceased for personal reasons prior to the Knesset elections, with the Jordanian crown prince canceling a visit to Al-Aqsa due to differences over security arrangements, and Jordan preventing Netanyahu's plane crossing its airspace on the way to the Emirates, which Netanyahu considered to be a violation of his person and reduce his chances of resolving the elections and undermining them to form the next Israeli government.

It is noteworthy that Netanyahu, who controls the reins of diplomacy and the channels of Israeli foreign policy, wanted to punish Jordan and prevent its flights and foreign flights from flying in Israeli airspace on the way to Queen Alia International Airport, which was frustrated by the various Israeli institutions that refused Netanyahu's request.

Stern warns of the repercussions of Netanyahu's personal approach towards Jordan, describing this as a "provocative and ill-considered approach," which would pose a real threat to the future of peaceful relations between Israel and Jordan, warning against keeping strategic relations with Jordan hostage to the person of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu , Who could end his term soon.