Jordan does not want new talks with Israel over links with PA

Jordan is not interested in starting new talks with Israel over commercial links with the Palestinian Authority, Quds Press reported on Wednesday. According to an official source, the Hashemite Kingdom is hopeful about keeping its relations with Israel as they are now.

The anonymous source said that Jordan is already in contact with Israel regarding the Jordanian-PA commercial exchange links. The issue has arisen following Jordan’s search for new markets.

The 1994 Paris Protocol on Economic Relations organises the PA’s commercial activities, mainly in relation to goods from Jordan and Egypt. The independent development of the Palestinian market is restricted as it is tied to Israel’s economy. While the protocol is supposed to be reviewed every five years, Israel has never sat down to do this, just as it has ignored many of its other obligations post-Oslo.

Read: Full coordination between Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian leaders

Israel imposes tariffs which obstruct the flow of many goods from international markets to the PA. It also prevents the import of many of the raw materials needed by Palestinian manufacturers inside the PA areas under the pretext of security.

Israeli-PA commercial exchange is worth $4.5 billion, while Jordan’s commercial activities with the PA are valued at less than $150 million.