Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan announced on Sunday the reactivation of the country's national military service.
During a meeting with young people from Irbid governorate, the Crown Prince said Jordanians must be prepared to serve and defend their country. He said citizens who previously participated in national military service understood the importance of the experience.
Prince Hussein emphasised the role of the programme in strengthening national identity and young people’s connection to their homeland.
The announcement came as Jordan seeks to project a posture of tough policies against Israel in response to the war in Gaza. Jordan has halted co-operation with Israel on development and infrastructure projects, but still imports large volumes of water and gas from the country.
Prince Hussein said he directed the government to work with its partners to develop the national military service programme, adding that there will be a press conference by the government and army in the coming days to announce details of the programme
Jordan ended conscription in 1991, under which men between the ages of 18 and 40 had to serve in the army for two years. Jordan depends on the US for aid and has a defence pact with Washington under which thousands of American troops are in the country.
Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. It was the second Arab country to sign such an agreement, after Egypt signed a peace deal in 1979.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Jordan has emphasised it commitment to the two-state solution. It has rejected Israel's plans to displace Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Jordan this month condemned remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he expressed support for the idea of a "Greater Israel", which includes parts of some Arab countries.
