Jordan will not renew portions of peace treaty with Israel

Jordanian King Abdullah II said Sunday that he will not renew two parts of the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.

“Baqoura and Ghumar were at the top of our priorities,” Abdullah tweeted on Sunday.

“Our decision is to terminate the Baquoura and Ghamar annexes from the peace treaty out of our keenness to take all decisions that would serve Jordan and Jordanians.”{mosads}

HM @KingAbdullahII : “#Baqura & #Ghamr areas have always been our top priority & our decision is to end Article 2 of Annexs I (b) of the #Jordan – #Israel #Peace Treaty emanating from our keenness to take whatever is necessary for Jordan & Jordanians.” https://t.co/skBB8a074q

— Embassy of Jordan (@JOembassyUK) October 21, 2018

According to Haaretz, which reported on the development Sunday, Israel leased the two territories, called Naharayim and Zofar in Hebrew, for 25 years.

The deadline for renewing the leases is next Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will negotiate with Jordan about extending the lease.

“There is no doubt the agreement is an important asset,” he said, following Abdullah’s announcement, adding Israel’s peace deal with Jordan as well as its agreement with Egypt are “anchors of regional stability.”

According to the paper, Jordan’s government has been under pressure from its legislature not to renew the leases and to become entirely sovereign over the territory.

Protestors marched in Amman last Friday, demanding that the government reclaim the land and cancel the entire peace treaty with Israel.