Secret Documents Reveal Shimon Peres' Covert Meeting with Jordan's King Hussein

On the tenth anniversary of his passing, previously secret documents and dramatic quotes from a clandestine meeting between former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Jordan's King Hussein in November 1993 have been revealed by the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation.

The meeting, held in Amman, was crucial in formulating the initial draft that led to the Israel-Jordan peace treaty signed a year later. Peres reportedly attended the secret summit disguised to conceal his identity.

Newly declassified records showcase a candid conversation where King Hussein expressed a personal sense of urgency, telling Peres, "In 1951 there was a tragic event, the murder of my father. I want to bequeath to the future, to my brother Hassan and the entire government, the best possible. Perhaps I only have a year or two left, I will put everything on the line."

Peres outlined a strategic vision for regional cooperation in infrastructure, ports, and transportation, emphasizing public support for peace. "There is tremendous public opinion support for the peace agreement today. The youth are sick of wars, poverty, and lack of freedom," he stated.

That same night, both leaders initialed a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for the official signing of the peace treaty in October 1994. Chemi Peres, Chairman of the Peres Center, remarked on the emotional impact of reading the documents, while Center CEO Efrat Duvdevani called it a "moral obligation to listen to the peace testament of great leaders."