Defense Ministry Statement on meeting of the Israel-Jordan Committee overseeing implementation of the peace treaty

Undeterred by acts of terror, Israel was determined to forge ahead with the implementation of its peace treaty with Jordan. For that purpose, meetings were being held both in Jordan and in Israel to finalize agreements on trade, transportation and military liaison matters. The reason why the following communique was issued by the defense ministry had to do with a meeting to be held on 9 February for the creation of a special regime in certain border areas, which would require a redeployment of armed forces units from both countries. Text:

The committee overseeing implementation of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty met today (Monday), 6.2.95, 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, 9.2.95, 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 initialed and the agreement permanently establishing border crossing procedures will be finalized.