Quarterly Updates for (16 Nov 1994 — 15 Feb 1995)

Meetings

Significant meetings this quarter revolved around the Jordan-Israel treaty signed 10/26/94. PM Rabin met with King Hussein in Amman 1/12-13 about implementation of the treaty. On 12/6, Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu met with King Hussein and Crown Prince Hassan in Amman; he emphasized that Likud no longer believes "Jordan is Palestine" and called for increased economic ties between the two countries. On 2/5 in Amman, King Hussein briefed 29-member Knesset delegation on peace process; the delegation then dined with 30 Jordanian MPs.

Diplomatic Relations

In implementation of the treaty, Israel and Jordan established full diplomatic relations on 11/27, opening their respective mbassies in Amman and Tel Aviv on 12/11. Marwan Muasher, head of U.S. Jordan Information Bureau and of Jordan's negotiating team, was appointed ambassador to Israel on 11/27 and, after some delay, Shimon Shamir, former ambassador to Egypt, was named Israel's ambassador on 2/15.

Borders

Israel on 1/30 withdrew from 132 sq. mi. of Jordanian territory captured in 1967 in compliance with the peace treaty. On 2/9, the remaining 17 sq. mi. were returned, armies were deployed along the newly demarcated borders, and 300 Israeli farmers were given entry permits so they could continue working farms.

Legislative

The Jordanian cabinet on 2/ 11 approved a bill revoking all laws contravening the Jordan-Israel treaty, formally lifting the boycott on Israel (actually lifted on 11/16) and annulling a law on selling real estate to Israelis.

Cooperation

By mid-December, all joint committees on implementation had met, presented agendas, and formed subcommittees for specific treaty sections. Throughout the quarter, numerous meetings were held by the Jordanian-Israeli joint committees and subcommittees on transportation, aviation, security and borders, investment, industrial cooperation, monetary and banking issues, water, health, energy and telecommunications, education, science and culture, and so on to formulate outlines for meeting the goals of the treaty and to discuss investment projects and joint development

A first shipping agreement was reached in mid-November on shipping licenses, radio communications, and allowing free passage of small vessels on both sides of the Gulf of Elat.

In mid-January, the two sides agreed to build a railroad with EU assistance linking Irbid and Haifa, and Aqaba and Elat.

Toward the end of the quarter, some progress had been made on drafting a free trade agreement and on establishing air corridors and routes between the countries. Royal Jordanian Airlines and El Al agreed on joint tourist packages on 2/5, and a separate agreement on tourism was initialed on 2/6. That same day, "direct" postal service between Israel and Jordan began, though no mail will go by land and, pending the conclusion of an aviation agreement, all mail will be routed through Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Jordan reduced telephone rates to Israel and the occupied territories, where international calls go through the Israeli exchange, to half their former level.