Ammon News - On Sunday, Jordan marks the fifth anniversary of reclaiming the lands of Baqura and Ghamr, following His Majesty King Abdullah II's termination of a special arrangement that permitted Israel to utilize them on October 21, 2018.
The Baqura region spans 820 dunams, located to the east of where the Jordan River meets the Yarmouk River, which was occupied by Israel in 1950, and was later returned to Jordan via the peace agreement.
Ghamr is situated in the Wadi Araba between the southern Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, covering an area of 4,235 dunams, which was occupied by Israel from 1968 to 1970, and was returned to Jordan as part of the peace treaty.
The royal decree to return Jordan's territories in Baqura and Ghamr, which concluded the operation of the special annexes of the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty between Jordan and Israel signed in 1994, received significant official and public approval, through which Jordanian diplomacy demonstrated its strength and effectiveness in handling matters concerning sovereignty.
His Majesty the King addressed the Jordanians during the Throne Speech at the commencement of the regular session of the House of Representatives in 2019: "I announce today the establishment of Jordanian sovereignty over every part of Baqura and Al-Ghamr," notifying his citizens of the reclaiming of Jordanian territory that was previously under the occupation of "Israel." The Jordanian royal strategy persists in reclaiming the territory and will not give it up regardless of the cost.
Five years ago, the work concerning the two annexes of the Al-Ghamr and Al-Baqoura regions, situated on the Jordanian border with occupied Palestine, was completed. These areas were leased by "Israel" for 25 years following the signing of the Wadi Araba Agreement with Jordan, which occurred in 1994. Once this condition lapsed, the King rejected the extension and chose to reinstate them.
The King, dressed in military attire and joined by His Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, the Crown Prince, proceeded to the Al-Ghamr regions in the south and Al-Baqoura in the north, where he performed two rak'ahs on the reclaimed Jordanian territory, asserting that operations in these areas would now be exclusively Jordanian.
The King's address to the National Assembly and in the Speech from the Throne was not the initial one regarding the territories of Baqura and Al-Ghamr, as it was clearly on his mind, and he was awaiting that day eagerly. Prior to the conclusion of the Israelis' operations in both regions, particularly on October 21, 2018, he posted a message on the "X" platform, directed at the Jordanians, stating: "Baqoura and Al-Ghamr have consistently been among our main concerns, and our choice is to terminate the Baqoura and Al-Ghamr attachments of the peace accord, driven by our commitment to implement all required actions for Jordan and its citizens."
His Majesty emphasized then that the Al-Ghamr region holds a unique and valuable position in the hearts of all Jordanians, stating: "Let us transform it into a Jordanian success story and a benchmark for similar agricultural initiatives nationwide." During his visit to a significant agricultural project conducted by the Jordanian Armed Forces - the Arab Army in the Al-Ghamr region in southern Jordan, he emphasized the importance of farmers taking advantage of these varied projects, highlighting that they should serve as a source of support rather than competition.
His Majesty emphasized the necessity for a significant transformation in agricultural output, in both quantity and quality, which would benefit citizens and boost food security in the Kingdom. He highlighted the importance of concentrating on growing new varieties in the Jordan Valley, which would enhance the agricultural sector and the national economy.
Ideal agricultural utilization -
Jordan has started the process of establishing two thousand greenhouses dedicated to peppers over an area of about one thousand dunums. Additionally, 240 greenhouses have been planted with garlic (seeds), which will yield enough garlic seeds to cultivate one thousand dunums. The initiative also includes the cultivation of mangoes, lychees, and garlic aimed at export within diverse land cultivation projects, ensuring it does not interfere with or compete against the local farmers or private sector.
The Arab Army, part of the Jordanian Armed Forces, started in early 2022 to develop the Al-Ghamr and Al-Baqoura lands in collaboration with the private sector. This initiative is fully financed by the Armed Forces and employs civilian, non-military Jordanians, adhering to international export standards to ensure high quality of Jordanian products, while incorporating all contemporary agricultural technologies.
The initial phase of the project, accounting for 10% of the five-year plan, involved enhancing the infrastructure for water wells and installing modern irrigation systems, along with creating a packaging center that meets international standards to aid local farmers, particularly taking into account the requirements of farmers in Wadi Araba, especially for similar varieties.
It also involved the cultivation of 2,000 plastic greenhouses with peppers over an area of approximately one thousand dunams, in addition to the introduction of 240 houses for garlic (seeds) expected to yield enough garlic seeds to cultivate one thousand dunams. Furthermore, plans were established to grow mango, lychee, and garlic for export within initiatives aimed at land cultivation with diverse products, ensuring it does not interfere with or compete against local farmers or the private sector.
- Regal knowledge and caution -
Former Minister of Economy Yousef Mansour emphasized to the Jordan News Agency the significance of Jordan reclaiming its occupied lands following the Jordanian declaration spearheaded by His Majesty King Abdullah II and the conclusion of the Baqura and Al-Ghamr annexes, which His Majesty proudly announced during the Throne Speech at the start of the regular session in 2019.
He stated that the esteemed Jordanian choice to assert its sovereignty over these territories holds significant implications from political, economic, and social perspectives, affirming that Jordan aims to attain peace and stability in the region, yet not at the cost of its political, economic, and security interests, and is determined to establish its sovereignty over every portion of its land.
He stated that the Jordanian choice was made with the wisdom and foresight of His Majesty the King to safeguard Jordan's interests, and to highlight his commitment to the treaties it establishes with other nations that are still obligated to adhere to these international agreements, covenants, and charters.
He stated that the regions of Al-Ghamr and Al-Baqoura hold significant political and economic value for Jordan and its people, highlighting His Majesty the King's instructions to successive administrations to utilize these areas and develop them agriculturally for the betterment of the Jordanian economy and agriculture overall.
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