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Jordan Plans to Revoke Parts of Its Peace Treaty with Israel
(Washington Post) Ruth Eglash and Taylor Luck - Jordan's King Abdullah II announced Sunday that he does not plan to renew parts of the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace agreement with Israel. Jordan wants to revoke the leasing of two parcels of land farmed by Israel along the Israel-Jordan border. The lease on Naharayim near the Kinneret and Zofar, 120 km. north of Eilat, was for 25 years and ends in one year. The peace treaty with Israel is deeply unpopular in Jordan and the decision to downgrade its arrangement with Israel sparked celebrations. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said relations with Jordan were still strong and that he would try to negotiate an extension to the existing arrangement. "This is not as dramatic as it sounds," said Shaul Mishal, a professor at Tel Aviv University. "Historically speaking, the relationship between Israel and Jordan has existed for many years, and, simply put, Jordan cannot exist without Israel."