'Jordan's sovereignty above all else': King Abdullah II

By Laith al-Juneidi

AMMAN (AA) - Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday said his country has full sovereignty over two pieces of land that had been leased to Israel as part of their peace deal.

"Jordan's sovereignty over its territory is above all else," Abdullah II tweeted shortly after visiting Al-Baqura area in northern Jordan.

Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Jordan would allow Israeli farmers into Al-Ghamar area in order to harvest what they had planted.

In a speech to the parliament on Sunday, King Abdullah II announced the expiry of the peace treaty's annex regarding leasing of Al-Ghamar and Al-Baqura to Israel.

Held by Israel since the late 1940s, Jordan allowed the self-proclaimed Jewish state to lease the territory for 25 years under the 1994 peace agreement between the two countries.

The deal gave Amman the option to regain full control of the two lands after the end of the 25-year arrangement.

Last year, Jordan said it will not renew the lease of the two lands to Israel.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara