Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

Israel hopes Jordan open to new deal on Tzofar, Naharayim

Two parcels of border-adjacent agricultural land leased to Israel under 1994 peace treaty handed back to Jordan after Amman refuses to extend the lease.

by  Ariel Kahana , Adi Hashmonai , Shachar Kleiman , News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Published on  11-10-2019 12:54
Last modified: 11-10-2019 13:00
Israel hopes Jordan open to new deal on Tzofar, NaharayimGil Eliyahu/JINI

IDF soldiers close the gate leading to the "Isle of Peace" at Naharayim, near the Israel-Jordan border, Saturday | Photo: Gil Eliyahu/JINI

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Israel on Sunday handed over to Jordan two parcels of agricultural land leased from it under the 1994 peace treaty between Jerusalem and Amman, after the latter had refused to negotiate extending their lease.

The areas in question comprise Naharayim, in the Jordan Valley, and Tzofar, in the Arava region in southern Israel.

The area also includes the Island of Peace, a park located at the confluence of the Jordan and Yarmouk rivers. In 1997, seven Israeli schoolgirls were murdered by a Jordanian soldier while on a trip to the park.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

A special clause in the 1994 peace treaty between the countries allowed Israel to retain control of the two enclaves for 25 years, with the understanding that the lease will be renewed automatically. But in late 2018, facing growing domestic criticism, King Abdullah II announced plans to terminate the lease.

The Israeli government immediately launched extensive efforts to guarantee continued access to the areas but to no avail.

As the lease officially ended on Sunday,  hundreds of Israelis flocked to the area over the weekend, taking "farewell tours" of Tzofar, Naharayim, and the Island of Peace. At around 5 p.m. following the last guided tour, Israeli troops shuttered the gate to Naharayim, marking its effective return to Jordan.

Diplomatic and political sources expressed their disappointment that Jordan's remained unmoved on the issue, but said that given the myriad of domestic pressures King Abdullah is dealing with, it was clear that once he publically announced he would not allow Israel to maintain its lease on the area, the chances of changing the decision were slim.

The Naharayim Memorial to the seven girls murdered in a 1997 terrorist attack in the Island of Peace (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Wikimedia Commons

Sources in both the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office attributed Amman's unbending position on the matter to the heavy pressure exerted by the Muslim Brotherhood and lawmakers opposing the normalization of Jordanian-Israeli ties.

Several sources added that if the matter was solely up to the monarch, he would have extended the lease for Tzofar and Naharayim, but the repeated calls in the Jordanian parliament to suspend and even repeal the 1994 peace treaty, compounded by the long-standing hostility to Israel among the Jordanian people, have led Abdullah to take a hard line on the issue.

"When it comes to the relations with Jordan, it's all about what's out there publicly. The issues that are handled behind the scenes, away from the Jordanian public eye are in excellent working order, be it security issues or economic relations. But anything that has a public expression in the media or is brought before the Jordanian Parliament meets with immediate opposition. That's just the reality of it," a diplomatic source told Israel Hayom.

"This farewell is entirely [the result of] improper and wrong conduct by the Israeli government over the last year," Jordan Valley Regional Council head Idan Greenbaum told Army Radio Friday. "We're sorry we're parting from this place we held with blood and sweat for so many years."

Greenbaum told Army Radio on Friday that Jordanian officials informed him that as of Sunday the Naharayim site will be out of bounds. Israeli authorities, he said, have told him nothing.

"As of this time, no Israeli official has chosen to update us," he said.

Related Posts

Druze in Syria call Israel for help as IDF Chief warns new regime

Armed Druze crossed border into Syria, IDF strikes Damascus

by Michel Makhoul and Lilach Shoval

Hundreds of armed Druze civilians have crossed the border fence from Israel into Syria near Majdal Shams. In response, the...

'The Red Bands': Behind al-Julani's shock troops in SyriaArab social media

'The Red Bands': Behind al-Julani's shock troops in Syria

by Shachar Kleiman

Syria's new Islamist government has deployed elite units to the Druze city of Sweida, marking a significant escalation in efforts...

Israeli-Druze leadership warns of border crossing into Syria Gideon Markowicz

Israeli-Druze leadership warns of border crossing into Syria 

by Michel Makhoul

The Druze leadership in Israel, headed by spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, has declared days of mourning and a general...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il