The Naharayim

Jordan Downgrades
Peace Treaty with Israel

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November 1 • 2018

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Jordanian parliament members
ordan announced its with-
signed a request to cancel the
drawal from part of the
lease.
1994 peace agreement with
Protesters marched in Amman
Israel on Oct. 21, saying the
Oct. 21 demanding that Jordan
agricultural areas of Naharayim
reclaim sovereignty over the ter-
and Zofar in the Jordan Valley,
ritories, while some urged Jordan
cultivated by Israeli farmers
King Abdullah
to cancel the entire peace treaty
over the past 25 years, will be
with Israel.
reclaimed by the kingdom.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
King Abdullah’s announcement
didn’t surprise many in Jerusalem, and Netanyahu has not given up, saying
Israel will negotiate the matter.
the step isn’t expected to destabilize
“Jordan has reserved the option to
ties.
reclaim the area in Naharayim near the
Naharayim — Hebrew for two riv-
ers, as it is located between the Yarmuk Jordan River and the Tzofar enclave in
the Arava. We were told today that it
and Jordan Rivers — was opened this
seeks to exercise this option in the 25th
year to Israeli visitors under the name
year. We will go into negotiations with
“Island of Peace.”
them on the option of extending the
“Al-Baqoura and Al-Ghamr [the
existing agreement,” Netanyahu said.
Arabic names] have always been our
“The entire treaty is a valuable asset,
top priority, and our decision is to
important to both countries,” he added.
end Al-Baqoura’s annexation and step
away from the peace agreement based
ROLLER COASTER RELATIONS
on our keenness to take whatever is
Relations between the two countries
necessary for Jordan and Jordanians,”
have been mixed. They signed a trade
Jordan’s King Abdullah II tweeted in
treaty in 1996 and, in 2014, agreed to a
Arabic.
$500 million natural gas deal effective
Israel returned the land to Jordan in
for 15 years.
1994; however, according to the peace
Israel’s security and intelligence ties
accord, Israelis were given private
with Jordan are more discreet but have
land ownership rights and property
interests. The agreement was to remain likewise strengthened, especially since
the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 and
in force for 25 years and renew auto-
the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS).
matically unless notice of termination
Relations have also hit some rocky
was given by either party one year in
spots in recent years, especially over
advance. In such a case, at the request
Jewish access to the Temple Mount.
of either party, the details could be
Jordan has repeatedly demanded that
renegotiated. The deadline for termi-
Israel prevent religious Jews from
nation was Oct. 25.
entering Judaism’s holiest — and
The Jordanian move was apparently
Islam’s third-holiest — site. It has
prompted by pressure from within the
kingdom. Many in Jordan have recent- recalled its ambassador over the issue
in the past.
ly called on their government not to
Moreover, the Jordanian people,
renew the agreement with Israel. The
comprised mostly of Palestinians,
Jordan Bar Association sent an official
overwhelmingly reject any form of
letter to Prime Minister Omar a-Raz-
zaz about the issue, while 87 out of 130 normalization with Israel. ■

PIKIWIKISRAEL PEACE ISLAND NAHARAYIM

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