Under the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, the US guarantees that both parties adhere to the treaty, particularly the attached security annex. This annex strictly defines the number and location of Egyptian forces permitted in Sinai, and allows for adjustments only through bilateral coordination with Israeli approval.

To ensure compliance, the US led the establishment of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), which operates across Sinai and includes aerial reconnaissance missions. However, for unclear reasons, these flights were halted with the outbreak of the war and have not resumed.

Israel has repeatedly pressed both the Biden and Trump administrations to fulfill US obligations and reinstate the flights. Former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael (Mike) Herzog led these efforts under the previous administration. A source familiar with the discussions told Israel Hayom that top US officials brushed off the request, responding that Gaza required additional aid instead.

Another critical oversight function that has been suspended is the inspection of Egypt's underground infrastructure in Sinai. A senior Israeli official disclosed that Egypt rejected MFO inspectors' requests to examine tunnel systems under construction. These inspections have become a pressing issue as the tunnels are believed to be capable of housing large quantities of weaponry. Israel is deeply concerned by Egypt's actions in this area.

"What's happening in Sinai's tunnels is extremely disturbing," a knowledgeable source said. "Beyond this being a grave violation of the peace accord, there's no plausible destination for those weapons other than Israel."

The restricted operations of the MFO coincide with Egypt's broader breaches of the peace treaty. In the early months of the war, Egypt deployed numerous forces, including armored units, to the Rafah area. Cairo developed a method of first moving troops into Sinai and only afterward notifying Israel, ostensibly to obtain the required approvals. In practice, Egypt presented Israel with faits accomplis, while simultaneously disrupting the international observers' work.

Following Biden's term, Israel quickly raised the matter again with the incoming Trump administration. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed it with current Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his February visit to Israel, and several follow-up requests have been made since.

This concern was the backdrop to several public comments made by Israel's current ambassador to Washington, Dr. Yehiel Leiter. Contrary to the perception that his remarks were rookie gaffes, Israel Hayom has learned that they were deliberate, aimed at spurring US action and signaling to Cairo that Israel will no longer tolerate the situation.

The Trump administration has indeed begun to press Egypt to resume its oversight responsibilities. "When the Americans take something seriously, others around the world do too," a source involved in the discussions told Israel Hayom. Nevertheless, inquiries by Israel Hayom confirm that the aerial missions over Sinai have not resumed and international inspectors have still not been granted access to the tunnels.

The MFO did not respond to a request for comment from Israel Hayom. However, it stated: "The force does not comment to the media on its verification and patrol missions, but it provides full updates to both treaty parties regarding its operations and observations."

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The health ministers of the two countries discussed cooperation on pharmaceuticals, medical research, and COVID-19 in a telephone call. A statement from Israel's Health Ministry added that they agreed on "initial and immediate cooperation" in the health sector.

Israel and the UAE have agreed to normalize diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship under a US-sponsored deal, making the UAE the third Arab country to have formal diplomatic ties with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.

The two countries will each appoint representatives and set up business delegations, the Israeli health ministry said.

The countries will also work to create a student exchange program once the coronavirus pandemic conditions allow, it added.

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Since the deal, the countries have signed a few agreements on technologies to fight the coronavirus. Several small-scale medical and defense collaborations were announced in the weeks preceding the normalization agreement.

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Throughout history, their dominant neighbors have sought to expand their territories at their expense. Most notably, Syrian forces invaded Jordan in 1970, a move opposed by Israel. The Palestinian Liberation Organization at the time hoped to establish a presence inside the Hashemite kingdom and use it as a springboard for attacks on Israel.

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Why have Jordan and Israel failed to implement warm peace relations? This is an important question. Their peace treaty left the issue of Judea and Samaria open to future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian leadership, regretfully, remained committed to the "armed struggle" and using terror to advance its goals. The Palestinians currently comprise nearly 60% of the Jordanian populace and almost 80% of the residents in and around the capital Amman. Their influence on the relationship between Israel and Jordan was and continues to be exceedingly significant.

The instability in the countries surrounding Jordan has also directly impacted the kingdom. During the first Gulf War, the Palestinians who left Kuwait moved to Jordan. Palestinians also had to leave their homes in Iraq, and relocate to Jordan. After Iran blocked the Persian Gulf to Iraqi ships, Iraq began using the Port of Aqaba in Jordan as an alternative seaport to access the Indian Ocean and the Far East. Recently, a mass of Syrian refugees have settled in Jordan and have become a heavy burden on the entire country.

In the near future, Jordan can expect to face the Iranian threat. The Shiite militias operating in Iraq could expand their penetration into Jordanian territory. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shiites are already living in Jordan, having moved there in the wake of Saddam Hussein's downfall.

Iran has used Shiite holy sites to spread its tentacles across the region, such as Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque on the outskirts of Damascus. There are similar Shiite sites in south Jordan. Throughout the past decade, Iran has offered to provide Jordan all of its energy needs, if it agrees to allow delegations of Shiite religious pilgrims to visit those places. King Abdullah II has wisely rejected the Iranian proposal.

Jordan's independence is a vital interest not just for Israel but for the Persian Gulf states. In the Middle East, the overriding strategic consensus opposes Iranian expansionism. This consensus supports Jordan's political independence and the peace treaty with Israel. Western powers must strengthen Jordan and help it oppose Iran and its proxies, whether they seek to infiltrate via Iraq or any other country in the region.

Dr. Dore Gold is the president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and the former director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. 

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It was still unclear whether Abdullah would similarly extend the land lease in Naharayim, in the Jordan Valley.

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The Hashemite Kingdom had previously refused to extend a lease on the lands outlined in the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty.

Israel will still have to return the two parcels of agricultural land and the transition will affect dozens of Israeli farmers who have been working the 247 acres of land for the past 25 years.

The two parcels of land, Naharayim in the Jordan Valley and Tzofar in the Arava, include the Island of Peace Park at the junction between the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers. They were returned to Jordan as part of the 1994 peace treaty, but leased by Israel under a special clause with the provision that it could use the land for 25 years and be able to renew the lease as a matter of procedure.

However, in October 2018, Abdullah announced he would terminate the lease. Israel attempted to solve the matter through diplomatic channels, but without success.

As part of the 1994 treaty, Israel supplies Jordan with 45 million cubic meters of water every year, a number that has increased to 55 million cubic meters over the last few years. In 2018, Amman asked Israel to expand the annual quota to a whopping 100 million cubic meters.

In 1997, a Jordanian soldier opened fire on an Israeli school trip to the Island of Peace, killing seven teenage schoolgirls and seriously wounding six others.

The late King Hussein, Abdullah's father, visited the girls' families to express his condolences personally.

Diplomatic discussions with regard to the land transfers are still ongoing. The Tzofar extension will give negotiators more time to discuss potential economic models.

Parts of this article were reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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