'PM agreed to lease Jordan Valley from Palestinians'

As part of negotiations, US reportedly proposes Israel lease border region for 7 years; MK says, "Why do I need to lease land that belongs to us?"

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Jordan Valley 311 AP (photo credit: Associated Press)
Jordan Valley 311 AP
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Israeli sources on Monday confirmed that the US proposed that Israel lease parts of the Jordan Valley from the Palestinians for an additional seven years, Army Radio reported.
According to the Monday report, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed to the idea, but demanded that the arrangement be for a longer period of time than the original offer. "Seven years is not enough - an arrangement like this needs to last for dozens of years," Netanyahu said in closed talks, according to Army Radio.
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A senior minister said that "anything less than a 99-year lease is not worth talking about," according to the report.
Habayit Hayehudi head Daniel Herschkowitz dismissed the idea, even if it is for 99 years, Army Radio reported. He said, "If we agree to the offer, we will be broadcasting to the Palestinians that the land is actually theirs." Adding, "I'm not the only one who thinks this way."
Herschkowitz drove home his point, saying, "Why do I need to lease land from them that belongs to us?," the report said.