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Israeli defence official expresses concern over Jordanian instability
Amos Gilad, a senior regional adviser to Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon, yesterday warned that ISIS is attempting to destabilise neighbouring Jordan.
Gilad, who is also a former head of the research division at Israel’s military intelligence, was speaking to the Israel Defence journal. He said that, “There is a stable regime in Jordan, which is dealing with dramatic challenges,” including a massive influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria and Iraq, with ISIS strongholds in both countries. He warned, “There is no doubt that ISIS is trying to penetrate [Jordan] from there, on a small scale for now,” and surmised “So they have worries. We should also be worried.” However, Gilad praised Jordan, saying “there is no way of not being impressed by their capabilities, military and otherwise.”
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994 and have enjoyed relatively warm relations since then. The two countries are currently working together on a multi-million pound project to rejuvenate the Dead Sea and increase water production to both countries. However, it is thought that security cooperation pre-dates official bilateral relations. The two countries share a number of security concerns. These include the regional influence of Iran, while Israel regards Jordan as a bulwark against the encroachment of Islamist forces in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.
Last year, it was reported that Israel handed over a fleet of Cobra combat helicopters to Jordan, in order to help its neighbour fend off the threat of ISIS. It is also thought that during the past year, UK troops have arrived in Jordan to help train moderate Syrian rebels to fight both ISIS and the Assad regime. Meanwhile, in November, Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon tacitly admitted that Israeli and Jordanian pilots flew alongside each other in a joint exercise in the United States.
Jordan’s King Abdullah is currently visiting Washington and on Monday met US Defence Secretary Ash Carter, in what the Pentagon described as a discussion over “mutual concerns in the region.”