Obama: Israel-Jordan treaty shows peace always possible
On 15th anniversary of peace agreement signed by Rabin, King Hussein, US president says their courage 'demonstrated that a commitment to communication, cooperation, and genuine reconciliation can help change the course of history.' Jordanian columnist: Israel’s wars against Palestinians have made Jordanians rightly furious
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama said a peace treaty signed 15 years ago between Jordan and Israel is a reminder that peace is always possible, despite obstacles that may seem impossible to overcome.
In 1994 King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the treaty near the Israeli-Jordanian border.
In a statement issued late Monday by the White House, Obama said that as he and others in his administration work to restart stalled peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, they are inspired by what Jordan and Israel achieved 15 years ago, "knowing that the destination is worthy of the struggle."
"As we honor this historic event, we remember that peace is always possible despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles," said the US president in the statement. "The courage of King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin demonstrated that a commitment to communication, cooperation, and genuine reconciliation can help change the course of history."
He said the two leaders "stared down the past's doubters and stood together in the interest of common progress."
"As we work with Arabs and Israelis to expand the circle of peace, we take inspiration from what Jordan and Israel achieved fifteen years ago, knowing that the destination is worthy of the struggle," said Obama.
Rabin (L), Clinton and Hussein at peace-signing ceremony (Archive photo: AP)
Jordan downplayed the peace treaty's anniversary, and it was mentioned mainly in newspaper editorials. In an article titled "The illusion of peace," Jordan Times columnist Hassan Barari said that according to a recent public opinion poll, 80% of Jordanians consider Israel an enemy.
"Fifteen years have elapsed since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty, yet rarely can one find a Jordanian who would say that peace is a reality. Very few Jordanians are convinced that Israel is serious about what reaching a historical reconciliation with Arabs," Barari wrote.
"That said, the peace treaty, which was subject of regular attack by Jordanian opposition, has survived the ups and downs of the volatile regional challenges. The Jordanian-Israeli relations have become strained over the last decade and a half, due mainly to the way Jordanians view Israeli policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians."
According to Barari, "Israel’s wars against Palestinians have made Jordanians rightly furious, in addition to Israel’s relentless effort to build settlements. Even the pro-peace camp in Jordan is convinced that Israel has ulterior motives, which are at the expense of the Palestinians. Moreover, Jordanians are not happy with the fact that Israeli politics has shifted to the right, a position that is not conducive to making peace.
"Notwithstanding this gloomy analysis, I think that the situation is reversible, provided that Washington steps in to convince Tel Aviv that peace is in the best interest of both Israel and the region as a whole. If the American administration comes to realize that peace serves its strategic interests in the wider Middle East, then Tel Aviv cannot escape pressure," he wrote in the op-ed.
