Secret 1993 Meeting Between Peres and King Hussein Revealed

Newly released documents from the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation detail a secret meeting between then-Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and King Hussein of Jordan in November 1993, a year before the signing of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty. The meeting was initiated by King Hussein, who requested to meet Peres, viewing him as a creative thinker.

According to the protocol, the meeting was held in strict secrecy to prevent Peres's identification. During their discussion, King Hussein emphasized the dynamic nature of their partnership and expressed hope for a future where younger generations could live in security and peace. Peres presented his vision for regional economic cooperation, including joint infrastructure projects for ports, aviation, and transportation.

King Hussein spoke of his desire to leave a legacy of peace for future generations, likening the limited time available for such endeavors to a galloping horse. He also alluded to his father's assassination in 1951 and his own limited time, stating he was willing to risk everything for peace. Peres noted the strong public support for peace among Israelis, particularly the youth, who were weary of war and hardship.

Peres proposed preparing an unofficial document summarizing their discussion and agreements to present to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, stressing their unified approach to advancing peace. The protocol was initialed by both leaders that night. The peace treaty between Israel and Jordan was signed in October 1994.

Chemi Peres, Chairman of the Peres Center, stated that the secret meeting exemplified Peres's visionary belief in the ability to change reality. Efrat Duvdevani, CEO of the Peres Center, highlighted the leaders' commitment to peace as a crucial inheritance for future generations, noting the meeting was part of the process leading to the peace treaty under the leadership of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Mossad head Ephraim Halevy.