Israel to close Allenby Crossing between West Bank, Jordan indefinitely

Israel will close the Allenby Crossing, the only official border crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, starting September 24 until further notice, the Palestinian General Authority for Borders and Crossings announced on September 23. The reasons behind the closure remain unclear.

The Allenby Crossing serves as a critical gateway for both passenger and commercial traffic, facilitating the movement of people and goods between Jordan and the West Bank. It is also the primary route for transporting commercial goods between the two regions, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israel Airports Authority, which oversees the crossing, did not respond to requests for comment amid a public holiday in Israel.

The closure follows recent security concerns, including an incident on September 19 when a Jordanian truck driver opened fire at the crossing, killing two Israeli soldiers. In the wake of the attack, the Israel Airports Authority had reopened the crossing for passenger traffic on September 22 after a temporary shutdown.

On September 23, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed that the crossing was closed to both passenger and freight traffic from the Israeli side until further notice.

The indefinite closure of the Allenby Crossing is expected to disrupt the daily movement of thousands of Palestinians and impact the flow of trade between Jordan and the West Bank, further complicating an already volatile situation in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva