Jordanian FM denies reports agricultural land lease to Israel was extended

The Jordanian Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ministry denied reports on Wednesday that King Abdullah II had agreed to renew or extend the use of the agricultural areas that had been leased to Israel as part of a 1994 peace agreement, according to the Jordan News Agency.

Sufian Salman al-Qudah, a spokesman for the ministry, said that the decision by Jordan to withdraw from the deal was final and that there would be no renewal or extension when the two leases expire on November 10.

The discussions between Israel and Jordan were about the next stage after the termination of the current agreement, not about renewing the current agreement, according to the Jordan News Agency.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maariv reported that King Abdullah II had reportedly agreed to extend an agricultural land lease to Israel that was part of the 1994 peace treaty.

The land at Naharayim near the Kinneret and at Tzofar, about 120 km. north of Eilat, was leased by Israel for agricultural use. Under the agreement, the lease would be renewed after 25 years unless one side decided to opt out of the deal a year before, which Jordan did last October.

Official sources say that discussions are continuing, but in the meantime, the lease in Tzofar has been extended for an additional agricultural season – around six months – in order to discuss future business models. There is currently no agreement concerning Naharayim.

The Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council are taking part in the discussions.

Israel conducted “intensive” negotiations in an attempt to retain the lease. If no agreement had been reached, the lease would have expired on October 25 and Israeli farmers wouldn’t be able to work the land anymore.

In September, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that “there are discussions, not concerning an extension of the lease, but rather about the next step.”

Herb Keinon contributed to this report.