Security Cooperation With Jordan: Key to Protecting Israel’s Eastern Front

Israel’s longest border, shared with Jordan, has faced persistent challenges of infiltration and smuggling led by Iran and its proxies, threats that have escalated significantly since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. As a result, Israel has announced plans to construct a fence along the entire Jordanian border to curb these threats. Jordan, a peace treaty signatory with Israel since 1994, has treated border security as a priority, deploying thousands of troops to the area. However, the surge in drug smuggling from Syria, which is also directed by Iran’s proxies, has strained Jordan’s resources, leading to a diminished troop presence along its border with Israel. Simultaneously, increased activity by Iran and its proxies has further complicated the situation, turning the border into a growing source of instability for Israel and highlighting the urgency of robust, collaborative security measures.

Jordan Emerging as a Key Route for West Bank Arms Smuggling

Israeli media has highlighted a significant surge in weapons smuggling across the Jordanian border, which has become a key transit route for arms destined for the West Bank. In 2020, 143 firearms were intercepted, a number that rose to over 500 in 2022 and more than 415 in 2023. These figures only represent confiscated shipments; many weapons successfully cross the border, with hundreds believed to reach the West Bank and Israel.

Smuggling networks rely on Palestinian and Jordanian Bedouins as well as seasoned arms traffickers who know the border intimately. These networks, often linked to organized crime, facilitate the movement of weapons, drugs, and cash, exploiting the border’s vulnerabilities for substantial financial gain.

Additionally, the extensive 480-km border, combined with the reduction of ground combat battalions in the Israeli military, has resulted in “dead zones” that lack adequate patrols and monitoring systems. This creates ideal conditions for smugglers to carry out their operations with minimal obstacles.

The Threats Along Israel’s Eastern Border Have Escalated Since Oct. 7

The border has witnessed escalating tensions following the October 7 atrocities in southern Israel. Hamas’s external leadership has intensified efforts to incite Jordan’s majority Palestinian population against the 1994 Wadi Araba peace treaty with Israel. Simultaneously, Iraqi militias have sought to further destabilize the kingdom, reportedly threatening to arm 12,000 Jordanians to fight Israel. This incitement has encouraged an increase in infiltration attempts from Jordan into Israel. In October, two Jordanians affiliated with the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, crossed the border and attacked Israeli soldiers. The expectation is that Hamas and its allies will continue to target the sympathetic Jordanian public to provoke more unrest and encourage attacks against Israel.

Israel and Jordan: Balancing Diplomatic Tensions With Security Cooperation

The diplomatic relationship between Jordan and Israel has faced strain over the past year, marked by increasingly critical rhetoric from Jordanian officials. Nevertheless, the security partnership between the two nations remains robust. Both countries recognize Iran as a significant threat to the region’s stability, a shared concern that underpins their collaboration.

Jordan participated in the interception of Iranian projectiles in April and October 2024 and has allowed the Israeli Air Force to intercept drones and missiles launched from Iraq. Recently, the IDF announced the establishment of a new division tasked with guarding Israel’s eastern border, explicitly naming Jordan as a partner in maintaining the border.

As both countries face continued Iranian pressure, it is essential for the United States to emphasize the centrality of this security relationship to counter Iran’s expanding influence despite the domestic challenges for Jordan.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow him on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.