Strained Relations Between Israel and Jordan Over Water Resources The relationship between Israel and Jordan has deteriorated significantly due to disputes over water resources, with Jordan facing a severe shortage of freshwater. The 1994 peace agreement, which established a framework for water-sharing, initially allocated 50 million cubic meters of water annually to Jordan. However, in 2021, both nations agreed to double this supply to 100 million cubic meters to address Jordan’s growing needs. This agreement, however, expired in 2025, leaving Jordan without a guaranteed water source. Currently, Israel is only providing the original 50 million cubic meters, exacerbating Jordan’s water crisis. Analysts note that Israel has imposed conditions for continuing the supply, including reducing diplomatic criticism of Israel and restoring full diplomatic relations. These demands have further strained the already tense relationship between the two nations. The conflict over water resources has intensified since the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, which disrupted regional stability and highlighted the fragility of existing agreements. Jordan’s reliance on the Jordan River and the Yarmouk River has been compounded by climate change and overuse of groundwater, making the dispute over water supply a critical issue. Jordan’s government has expressed frustration with Israel’s refusal to honor the 2021 agreement, arguing that the country’s water security is at risk. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that it cannot guarantee additional supplies without assurances of reduced hostility. This impasse underscores the broader geopolitical tensions in the region, where water scarcity has become a flashpoint for conflict. Experts warn that without a resolution, Jordan’s water crisis could worsen, threatening its economy and population.#israel #jordan #jordan_river #yarmouk_river #2021_agreement
In the lowest place on Earth, a sea is rapidly dying — and no one can agree how to save it The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, is shrinking by about 4 feet each year due to water diversions, mineral extraction and the impacts of climate change. As water levels drop, more than 6,000 sinkholes have opened around the Dead Sea, closing beaches and threatening businesses. Multiple plans exist to save the sea, but high costs and regional political tensions have stalled action for years. The Dead Sea sits where Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian land meet and is a place of extremes. It’s the lowest point on the planet, around 1,400 feet below sea level. It’s also one of the world’s saltiest water bodies, nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean, which makes the water so dense people can float effortlessly on its surface. But this unique body of water is dying. Every year it recedes around 4 feet, as the impacts of human activities and climate change take a heavy toll. Over the past five decades, its surface area has shrunk by roughly a third. As the water retreats, it’s forging a new landscape of sinkholes and salt-encrusted shorelines that is both strikingly beautiful and a haunting reminder that the Dead Sea’s future hangs in the balance. Jake Ben Zaken runs boat tours on the Dead Sea and has a front row seat to the rapid changes. Ben Zaken, who runs the company Salty Landscapes from Mitzpe Shalem, a settlement in the West Bank, has been taking people out onto the Dead Sea for more than 12 years. It’s given him a front row seat to the alarming changes. His boat tours used to start from Mineral Beach, just to the south of Mitzpe Shalem, but he was forced to move when sinkholes closed it in 2015. His current location is safe for now, but the landscape is shifting fast.#dead_sea #jordan_river #mineral_extraction #israeli_jordanian_palestinian #sinkholes
