What’s the agreement all about?
Jordan’s King Abdullah II has announced that he does not plan to renew parts of the country’s 24-year-old peace agreement with the Israeli regime. Here is what that agreement is all about:
The agreement was reached in November 1994 between King Abdullah’s father, King Hussain, and then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The lease of two areas of land to Israel was agreed in annexes to the 1994 peace treaty between the two countries.
The issue is how to negotiate [again] with the Israelis on regaining full Jordanian control over the two areas.”
There is a need to renegotiate many articles of the [1994 peace] agreement. Jordan’s share of water should be increased, and [there should] not be threats to reduce it.”
The areas are Al Baqoura in the north and Al Ghumr in
the south. The two areas combined cover a total of about 1,000 acres, cultivated by Israeli farmers.
The lease governing them was for 25 years and had been due for renewal.
King Abdullah said the areas have always been a “top
priority” for Jordan and the decision was based on “our keenness to take whatever [steps are] necessary for Jordan and Jordanians”. Large-scale protests in Jordan over the weekend urged the king to reclaim the Jordanian territory.
Taher Al Udwan | Jordanian Information Minister After his announcement, the decision sparked celebrations as Jordanians took to social media, with one person calling it a ‘historic and wise decision’.