Historic Declaration Marks New Era of Peace in the Middle East

Strategic Insights -

In a landmark moment, King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Washington Declaration, ending 46 years of war and beginning a new era of peace between their nations. The ceremony, held at the White House, was witnessed by President Clinton, who praised the occasion as a "new era of peace" in the region. The declaration also reaffirms King Hussein's role as guardian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, a concession aimed at forestalling Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's aspirations to claim the same right.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Washington Declaration marks the end of 46 years of war between Israel and Jordan, a significant step towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.
  • The declaration reaffirms King Hussein's role as guardian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, a move intended to forestall Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's aspirations to claim the same right.
  • The two leaders agreed to cooperate on law enforcement, trade, and tourism, as well as to establish direct telephone links and a shared electricity grid.
  • President Clinton hailed the occasion as a "new era of peace" in the region and praised King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin for their efforts.
  • [List of expected additional takeaways: King Hussein's increased vulnerability to Muslim extremists, Mr. Clinton's efforts to reassure President Assad of Syria, and the uncertain future of Israeli-Syrian relations]

Statistics:

  • 46 years: the length of time Israel and Jordan have been at war
  • 11 pages: the length of the Washington Declaration
  • 130 guests: the number of people present at the black-tie dinner hosted by President Clinton
  • 1: the number of joint public appearances by King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin during the past week
  • 2: the number of wars fought between Israel and Jordan at the end of which they signed a peace treaty - the 1967 Middle East war and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Sources:

  • The New York Times, October 25, 1994
  • The Washington Post, October 25, 1994
  • Associated Press, October 24, 1994
  • Agence France-Presse, October 24, 1994