Ex-Israel PM slams providing Jordan with additional water without ‘returns’

Former Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday criticised the current government’s plans to supply neighbouring Jordan with additional water “without obtaining any political compensation”.

This came after Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation, Muhammad Al-Najjar, and the Israeli Minister of Energy, Karine Elharrar, signed an agreement which would see Tel Aviv providing Amman with an additional 50 million cubic metres of water.

Under the peace agreement signed between the two states in 1994, Israel provides Jordan 55 million cubic metres of water annually for one cent per cubic metre.

However, Netanyahu, who slammed the deal, said on Twitter: “Now, while Jordan is strengthening its relations with Iran, Bennett today doubled the amount of water transferred by Israel to Jordan, without obtaining any political return for Israel.”

According to the global water index, Jordan is the second poorest country in the world in terms of water per capita.

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