Jordan-Israel ties tested by tainted vegetables scandal

Relations between Jordan and Israel have come under further strain over a scandal related to allegedly tainted vegetables exported from the kingdom.

Israeli media outlets reported on Monday that Tel Aviv had halted imports of some fruits and vegetables from Jordan after positive traces of cholera in samples of water from the Yarmouk River. 

Despite no evidence yet of produce being contaminated, the pause on imports was taken as a precautionary measure while Israel's Health Ministry investigates further.

The move sparked indignation from Amman, which dismissed the Israeli reports as "rumours".

Jordanian authorities have insisted that the waters of the Yarmouk River and the King Abdullah Canal are uncontaminated, with regular testing carried out.

Unnamed sources familiar with the matter cited by The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, said Jordanian authorities are considering further measures in response to the allegations, including a halt on olive exports.

Halting trade was a key demand of the Jordanian protest movement in the early months of Israel's latest war on Gaza — a demand which was not met by Amman.

Observers have noted that the Israeli decision followed Jordan's' move last week to halt tomato exports to cater to local demand — a move which has caused a shortage and spike in price in Israel.

Israel is facing a 40% shortage of tomatoes, Israeli outlet Ynet reported on Tuesday, owing to a halt on exports of the product by Turkey and Jordan. Ankara has halted exports of tomatoes to Israel for several months in protest against Israel's war on Gaza.

The fruit and vegetable fiasco has added further stress to ties between the two states, amid Israel's brutal war on the Gaza Strip.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi appeared to weigh in on both matters on X on Monday in a tweet blasting Israeli "disinformation campaigns".

"Neither the fabricated allegations nor the lies spread by extremist Israeli officials, including those targeting Jordan, can hide the fact that Israel’s aggression on Gaza, its violations of international law, and its violation of the rights of the Palestinian people are the greatest threat to the security and stability of the region," Safadi said.

"The facts expose the lies. The facts reveal the brutality of the aggression on Gaza and the terror it imposes on Palestinian women, men, and children, and reflect the seriousness of the threat posed by the policies and illegal measures of this most extremist Israeli government in the history of Israel to the security and stability of the region. These are clear, documented facts, not covered up by media disinformation campaigns, lies and fabrications."

According to data from the Jordanian Department of Statistics, Jordanian exports to Israel amounted to $142 million last year, compared to $123 million in 2022.