JERUSALEM, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel intends to re-negotiate with Jordan the extension of an Israeli land lease under the peace treaty between the two countries.
Jordan informed Israel earlier in the day that it wants to reclaim lands in the Jordan Valley and the southern Arava, Netanyahu told a public gathering.
"Within the framework of the peace treaty, Jordan reserves the option to reclaim the area in Naharayim (Baqoura in Arabic) near the Jordan River and the Tzofar enclave in the Arava," he said.
"We will go into negotiations with them on the option of extending the existing agreement," the prime minister concluded.
The Israel-Jordan peace treaty, signed in 1994, is "a valuable asset important to both countries" and is the "main anchor of regional stability" along with the one signed with Egypt in 1979, Netanyahu noted.
Under the Israel-Jordan treaty, Israel leased some 400 hectares of border farmlands from Jordan in addition to a land south of the Sea of Galilee.
