BICOM

What is the significance of the Washington Declaration?

The signing of the Washington Declaration was a historic moment in the Middle East peace process. The agreement was signed at a White House ceremony on 25 July 1994 by King Hussein of Jordan and prime minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel. This was the first time that leaders of the two countries had met in public. Jordan was only the second Arab state to make peace with Israel (after Egypt), and the agreement was welcomed with great enthusiasm in Israel. There was a particularly strong bond of respect between Hussein and Rabin, which was picked up by the Israeli people. The King personally became a very popular figure in Israel, capturing the public imagination with the warmth of his personal gestures in the spirit of peace. After a Jordanian soldier shot dead seven Israeli schoolgirls in a terror attack in 1997, he came immediately to visit the families and ask their forgiveness. The flags of all Israeli government offices were lowered to half mast during his funeral in 1999.

There were many secret contacts between the countries over the years, but Israel and Jordan had been in a formal state of war since Israel’s creation, and had been engaged in full-scale conflict in 1948 and 1967. The agreement followed the successful Oslo process which led to the establishment of Palestinian self-rule in parts of Gaza and the West Bank; the existence of an Israeli-Palestinian peace process made possible the historic reconciliation between Israel and Jordan. Though preceded a few days earlier by a public meeting between foreign minister Shimon Peres and Jordanian prime minister Abdel Salaam al-Majali in Jordan, the White House ceremony was the dramatic event that brought to world attention the commitment of both sides to peace.

The peace with Jordan today remains highly valued in Israel, and is considered an important element of Israel’s strategic and diplomatic position in the region. Israeli security officials have great respect for their Jordanian counterparts, with whom they cooperate closely. Jordan is an important promoter of a regional process which would lead to peace and normalisation between Israel and the broader Arab world. King Abdullah, who has ruled Jordan since his father’s death in 1999, has recently coordinated on this issue with US President Barack Obama.

What is in the Washington Declaration?

The declaration itself formally ended the state of belligerency between the two states and committed each to working for a full peace treaty, and for regional peace based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. It also dealt with symbolic steps towards normalisation of relations, such as establishing phone lines, opening an air corridor and abolishing economic boycotts. As a result of the agreement, the border between Israel and Jordan was opened a few weeks later. The agreement also recognised Jordan’s special connection to the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, which would be taken into account in final status talks with the Palestinians. This was highly important for the Jordanian King, who traced his ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad.

The Washington Declaration was the prelude to the full peace treaty, signed on 26 October 1994, which resolved all outstanding issues between the states, including territorial adjustments. This in turn was followed by the opening of full diplomatic relations and the signing of a host of bilateral treaties of cooperation.

Who were the key people involved?

The agreement was made possible by the leadership of King Hussein of Jordan and prime minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, with the support of the US administration of President Bill Clinton which promoted the deal with economic and other incentives for the Jordanians. On the Israeli side, other important figures included then-foreign minister Shimon Peres, Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy, Israel’s chief negotiator with Jordan, Elyakim Rubinstein; Israel’s ambassador to the US, Itamar Rabinovich; and Rabin’s bureau chief Eitan Haber.  The lead Jordanian negotiator was ambassador Fayez Tarawneh.

Key Quotations

Opening words of the Washington Declaration:

‘After generations of hostility, blood and tears and in the wake of years of pain and wars, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin are determined to bring an end to bloodshed and sorrow. It is in this spirit that His Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, met in Washington today at the invitation of President William J. Clinton of the United States of America.’ Click here for the full text.

Speech of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin on signing the Washington Declaration:

‘It is dusk in our homes in the Middle East. Soon, darkness will prevail. But the citizens of Israel and Jordan will see a great light. We have today taken a major step on the road to peace. We and Jordan have chosen to speak to each other rather than to continue the state of war. From here, at a distance of thousands of miles from home, I would like to congratulate today the inhabitants of Israel and of Jordan, to remember the fallen in the wars on both sides, and to tell children on both sides of the border: We hope and pray that your life will be different than ours.’ Click here for the full text.

Speech of King Hussein to US Congress, following the signing of the Washington Declaration:

‘The two Semitic peoples, the Arabs and the Jews, have endured bitter trials and tribulations during the journey of history. Let us resolve to end this suffering forever and to fulfil our responsibilities as leaders of our peoples, and our duty as human beings towards mankind.’ Click here for the full text.

To read articles from the UK press at the time, click here.