18/08/2025
Jordan Reinstates Military Service: A Domestic Mobilization and a Strategic Deterrent Against the "Greater Israel" Project
Al-Haqiqa Al-Dawliya – Amman | By the Political Editor
The announcement by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah regarding the reinstatement of mandatory military service (Service of the Nation) marks more than an administrative policy, it is a calculated political-security statement and a strategic message of deterrence directed at Tel Aviv. Simultaneously, it signals internal mobilization to elevate national preparedness at a time when the Israeli settlement project is shifting from gradual encroachment to open, reckless expansion.
Although the Crown Prince’s statement was brief, it sparked widespread endorsement across social media and national media outlets. The details of the program will be officially presented by the government in a dedicated press conference today. However, the direction and intent of the move are clear: to build a structured and disciplined human capacity capable of defense and deterrence, while deeply embedding Jordanian youth in national security, not just as a slogan, but as an institutionalized practice.
The Crown Prince emphasized that preparing youth to serve and defend the nation is a national priority. He noted that those who have previously served understand the value of the experience in strengthening national identity, character development, and personal discipline.
The government, through Prime Minister Jafer Hassan, confirmed that implementation will begin early next year, with funding drawn from this year’s emergency spending and the 2026 budget. Required legal amendments will be submitted to Parliament under urgent status. Government Spokesman Dr. Mohammad Al Momani described the program as a national project developed under the direct guidance of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Crown Prince. The goal: to prepare disciplined youth with a strong connection to their homeland through an integrated system that revitalizes the concept of national service.
The timing of the Crown Prince's announcement aligns with a critical regional context. In the West Bank, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is pushing plans to build thousands of new settlement units connecting Ma'ale Adumim to Jerusalem—effectively severing the northern and southern parts of the West Bank and eliminating any prospect for a contiguous Palestinian state.
The Israeli Knesset has also voted on measures pushing for annexation of the West Bank. Most alarming was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s adoption of a messianic vision of a "Greater Israel"—a project that imagines control over Jordanian and Arab lands. This has triggered widespread Arab condemnation, including official responses from Jordan, and evoked painful memories of the 2023 Paris exhibition displaying maps of "Israel" encompassing Jordan.
Jordan today faces a declared expansionist agenda operating on two parallel tracks: the demographic and geographic restructuring of the West Bank, and the promotion of a political narrative that overrides the terms of the 1994 Wadi Araba peace treaty and the 1967 borders. In such a historic moment, diplomatic statements are no longer sufficient. Jordan is now compelled to raise the cost of Israeli recklessness using all components of national power—foremost among them, disciplined and trained human capital ready to defend the nation's soil.
From this perspective, the reinstatement of military service is a deterrent step—measured not in words but in capability. Organized conscription creates a reserve force that can be mobilized, increasing the cost of any attempt to shift the fallout from crises in the West Bank or Gaza toward the east. A geographically distributed and trained civilian force alters the risk calculus for Israel’s far-right government. At the same time, national service fosters societal cohesion and internal motivation, preparing youth with real-world skills and redefining citizenship as a responsibility, not just a wait for a public sector job.
The program will also bolster border security and equip the country to deal with evolving forms of "hybrid warfare"—including drone threats, cyber intrusions, smuggling operations, and humanitarian crises. As such, the inclusion of short, intensive training units in border surveillance, drone operations, field medical aid, cyber defense, and strategic communications is not a luxury, but a national necessity.
Through this decisive action, Jordan is sending a multi-layered message:
To its allies, that Amman is fulfilling its defense responsibilities and expects real pressure on Israel to halt annexation and settlement.
To Tel Aviv, that the Kingdom will not serve as a dumping ground for the consequences of Israeli adventurism—it is a sovereign state with strong social fabric and mobilization capacity, capable of raising the cost of any regional miscalculation.
To the Jordanian public, it is also a profound domestic message. The Crown Prince is taking on a file that strikes at the core of the social contract—from security and identity to opportunity—and turning it into a practical national program that enhances youth engagement, strengthens internal cohesion, and rebuilds a society ready to face challenges head-on.
The decision to reinstate military service redefines Jordan’s response to the most dangerous wave of annexation, settlement expansion, and political radicalism from Israel in decades. It is a political response implemented through institutional means—one that enhances deterrence, strengthens the home front, and places youth at the heart of a national security vision that extends beyond borders to encompass the economy, society, and information security.
If executed according to the Royal vision in full, this bold step will evolve from a powerful announcement into a national security equation—one that recalibrates the adversary's calculations and fortifies the state's resilience at a critical historical juncture.
