Jerusalem, 6 February 1995
ISRAEL-JORDAN COMMITTEE MEETS
(Communicated by Defense Minister's Media Adviser)
The committee overseeing implementation of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty
met today (Monday), Feb. 6, 1995, in Dir Ala, Jordan, and received a
report on progress in the talks and negotiations leading to the signing of
trade, transportation, and military liaison agreements between the two
countries.
An agreement on tourism was finalized, and the agreement determining the
liaison and coordination arrangements between the IDF and the Jordanian
Army was initialed.
A meeting of the joint committee dealing with the issue of an air corridor
between Israel and Jordan was also held. Some progress was made and the
sides are making a concerted effort to achieve overall agreement soon.
The peace treaty states that within three months of the exchange of the
ratified documents between the heads of state, agreements on tourism and
the liaison and coordination mechanism between the two countries' armies
would be signed. In addition, the IDF would deploy along the border
determined by the peace treaty, and the statutory processes enshrining the
peace treaty in the internal legal systems of the two countries would be
completed.
Last week, the Knesset passed the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty Law. A
similar bill is pending in Jordan. In addition to the two areas where a
special regime is in force, the new border between Israel and Jordan
includes recognition of Israel's sovereignty over those areas where land
is cultivated by Israeli communities in the Arava.
On Thursday, Feb. 9, 1995, three months after the peace treaty documents
of ratification were exchanged between Israel and Jordan, meetings of the
supervision committee and the joint border committee will be held in the
Zofar and Naharayim areas. In these areas, which will be under Jordanian
sovereignty, a special regime will be in force, according to which those
with rights in these agricultural lands will be able to continue
cultivating them. In Naharayim, joint tourism is also planned. During the
meetings, the two countries' armies will deploy along the new border, the
military liaison agreement will be signed, the tourism agreements will be
initialled and the agreement permanently establishing border crossing
procedures will be finalized.