AMMAN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Jordan said on Sunday it received an official request from Israel to start negotiations after Jordan decided to terminate Israel's "annexation" of Baqoura and Ghumar areas under the Jordan-Israel peace treaty in 1994.
Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat said in a statement that Jordan received a formal letter from Israel in this regard.
She added that Jordan resorted to using rights it is entitled under the peace deal by terminating annexation on the two border areas.
Last week, King Abdullah II of Jordan said that Jordan will terminate Israel's "annexation" of the two areas, adding that the reclaim of Baqoura and Ghumar areas was on Jordan's top agenda.
Under the 1994 peace treaty with Israel, Jordan has the right to not renew an agreement that leases areas in Baqoura, in the northwestern corner of Jordan, and Ghumar, south of the Dead Sea, to Israeli farmers.
According to the peace treaty, these leased areas remain under Jordanian sovereignty despite Israeli private land-use rights.
Several protests have been held in Jordan to demand the government not to renew the agreement and to annul Israel's ownership of Jordanian lands.
