Secret 1993 Meeting Documents Between Shimon Peres and King Hussein Revealed
The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation has released classified documents from a secret 1993 meeting in Amman between Shimon Peres and King Hussein of Jordan, which laid the groundwork for the 1994 peace treaty.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the passing of Shimon Peres, Israel's eighth Prime Minister and ninth President, the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation has unveiled previously classified documents and quotes from a secret meeting in November 1993 between Peres, then Foreign Minister, and King Hussein of Jordan. This dramatic meeting, held at the royal palace in Amman under strict secrecy, laid the initial groundwork for the historic 1994 peace treaty.
The Secret Mission to Amman
The newly released archives reveal that the initiative began on October 26, 1993, when a message arrived from the Jordanian royal court. King Hussein requested a private meeting with Shimon Peres, whom he regarded as a highly creative thinker. To maintain absolute confidentiality, Peres had to travel in disguise to the royal palace in Amman.
During their conversation, Peres presented his vision for regional economic cooperation, emphasizing modern infrastructure, shared airports, seaports, and highways as the foundation for a lasting agreement.
King Hussein responded warmly to the vision:
"We have many dreams and hopes for the future. I share the commitment to bring about change, so that the younger generations will have the opportunity to live with a sense of security, which is peace."
A King's Personal Urgency
The most poignant moment in the protocol reveals King Hussein sharing his deep personal motivation and a sense of mortality with the Israeli Foreign Minister:
"In 1951, there was a tragic event, the assassination of my grandfather. I want to bequeath to the future, to my brother Hassan and to the entire administration, the best possible. Maybe I only have a year or two left, I will put everything on the line."
Peres, in turn, highlighted the growing public desire for regional stability, noting that the younger generation was tired of wars, poverty, and the lack of freedom.
The Blueprint for Peace
Before the night ended, King Hussein and Shimon Peres initialed a memorandum of understanding that served as the direct blueprint for the official peace treaty. Nearly one year later, in October 1994, the historic peace agreement between Israel and Jordan was formally signed.
Chemi Peres, Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, expressed deep emotion upon reviewing the documents, while Efrat Duvdevani, Director General of the Center, emphasized that preserving the peace legacy of these great leaders is both a privilege and a moral duty.
