Days after a Jordanian truck driver murdered two Israeli soldiers, Israel orders the indefinite closure of the Allenby Crossing, the West Bank’s main gateway to Jordan.
Israel announced on Tuesday that the Allenby Crossing, the sole border passage between the West Bank and Jordan, will be closed indefinitely starting Wednesday, just days after reopening it following a deadly terror attack.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed the closure was ordered “at the direction of the political leadership.” The statement gave no timeline for reopening. Both Palestinian and Jordanian officials confirmed they were informed of the decision.
The Allenby Crossing is the primary travel route for Palestinians in the West Bank heading abroad and also serves as a hub for the movement of goods between Jordan and the West Bank.
The closure follows last Thursday’s terror attack, when a Jordanian truck driver shot dead two Israeli soldiers at the crossing, forcing Israel to immediately suspend operations. The crossing was only fully reopened on Monday.
The move comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces international pressure after France, Britain, Canada, and Australia announced recognition of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has pledged to deliver Israel’s formal response to these recognitions after returning from the United States.
Right-wing members of Netanyahu’s coalition have called for annexing parts of the West Bank in response to what Jerusalem views as reckless appeasement of Hamas in the wake of the October 7 massacre.
While critics abroad cast the Allenby shutdown as a disruption for Palestinians, Israeli officials stress that security for soldiers and civilians must come first after terrorists exploited the crossing to stage a lethal attack.
