Jordan denies selling or leasing lands to Israeli investors

Jordanian Minister of Waters and Irrigation Kamel Mahadeen has denied a report published on Wednesday by the Israeli daily "Urshalim" that a group of Israeli investors had bought some 80 dunnums from lands in Zara district at US $2.4 million, in collaboration with a French company.

In a statement to the Jordanian daily al-Rai published on Thursday, the Jordanian minister asserted that he has "no knowledge about such a matter."

For his part, secretary general of the Wadi Araba Authority, Dureid Mahasenah, said there is no request to buy or lease property by Israelis or any French-Israeli joint company for lands in the areas suitable for establishing five-star hotels.

Mahasenah added that even if the Israelis are partners in a French company, before the leasing contract the company will disclose the identity of its shareholders, a matter which has not happened yet.