Upon signing the Peace treaty between Jordan and Israel 13 years ago. There were much talk and hype triggered by the government of Jordan at that time to highlight the potential benefits of signging the treatment. Most of the talk focused on highlighting the economic gains Jordanians would benefits of with the promised global support and international financial grants.
While the couple of years followed the assignment of the Peace Treaty didn’t bring the amount of prosper people hoped for according to the promises of the government at that time, still now after 13 years of peace, one can look at the Jordanian economy and measure the substantial improvement it gained since then.
One would argue that the Jordanian economy would have made such leaps with or without the Peace Treaty as we weren’t really on an active War with Israel since 1968, but I would disagree because even being on a cold war means less security and progress. People would concentrate on building their future rather than focusing on securing their fences.
Being in a Peace state. Jordan’s people and leadership found themselves in better conditions to focus on their own economic development, rather than spending a big amount of budget on military development. It became easier for the consequence goverments to raise the level of freedom and democracy under a peaceful atmosphere rather than having to dictate high security rules while being at war.
Mostly every economic sector has picked up. Starting from Tourism sector passing throught Medical, IT, Advertismenet, Trade, Finance, Telecommunication, production and ending in the latest construction boom that wouldn’t have taken place in a less secured environment.
Benefits have not been exclusive to economic gains. One can measure clearly the spirit of the Jordanian’s people and espcially our youth. Looking back at the youth of the the 70’s and 80’s generations where they were obsessed with patriotism, war, and national political affairs. It is quite clear how things changed in the minds of our youth where their focus changed from find ways to secure their country, into finding way to build it.
Just recently we have started to hear about various local talents in different cultural and artistic aspects. From singing, writing, painting, dancing, acting, TV hosting ..etc. Jordanian talents are coming finding a healthy environment to come out and nourich.
Accompanied with a media recent boom, starting from local new printed publications and radio stations, and with the promising future of our TV stations with the coming of ATV. Local talents are finding a good support in highlighting their achievments at a time where people have tools to listen and watch.
The fruits of our Peace Treaty with Israel has never been about the USA money grants. The real value of it lies in our own sense of security and our readiness to move on building our country and innovating our future.
It is time to start collecting those fruits.
Fadi Zaghmout 
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