Mr Ariel said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 1 that water supplies to Amman would be reduced from four to two days a week if Jordan terminates the agreement of the 1994 peace treaty that allows the Israeli government and farmers to use Jordanian lands of Baqura and Ghamr near their shared border.
On Sunday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II announced his decision and said that “Baqoura and Ghamr are Jordanian lands and will remain Jordanian and we will exercise full sovereignty over our territory".
______________ Read more: Jordan’s King Abdullah II warns of ‘dangers’ to Jerusalem Jerusalem to remove UN agency for Palestinians from city Jordan’s king announces return of full sovereignty as he cancels Israeli land deal ______________ Under their peace agreement, Jordan agreed to grant Israeli farmers and military officers free access to the enclave.
"Jordan needs Israel more than Israel needs Jordan," he said.
Jordan is one of only two Arab states that has a peace treaty with Israel and the two countries have a long history of close security ties.
Former Israeli Ambassador to Jordan, Oded Eran, said he was not surprised by King Abdullah’s decision, adding that there is still time for the two countries to renegotiate the agreement.
Such criticism prompted demonstrations in Amman last Friday, where marchers demanded the restoration of Baqura and Ghamr.
Anti-government warnings were submitted to Jordanian courts demanding against the renewal of the peace agreement with Israel.
Under that deal, which aims to increase fresh water supplies for Jordan, the Palestinians and Israel and revitalise the Dead Sea’s falling water levels, Israel agreed to increase water sales to the Palestinian Authority by 20m to 30m cubic meters a year.
Since then, high-level talks on water project have been suspended between the two countries.