Israel to reopen border crossing with Jordan closed since start of pandemic
The Wadi Araba Crossing, known as the Yitzhak Rabin terminal in Israel, set to open on July 4 amid downward trends in infection rates on both sides of border
The Yitzhak Rabin Border Terminal at the Wadi Araba crossing between Israel and Jordan. (CC BY 2.5, Wikipedia, NYC2TLV)
One of Israel’s border crossing to Jordan that had been closed since March 2020 is set to reopen next month, as the pandemic fades in both countries, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
The Wadi Araba Crossing, known as the Yitzhak Rabin terminal on the Israeli side closed during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained shuttered since.
Israelis will be able enter and leave the Hashemite kingdom through the crossing from July 4, the ministry said.
The statement did not say if a second crossing in the south of both nations that connects the resort cities of Aqaba and Eilat would also open.
Israelis going into Jordan will need to present a vaccination certificate or proof of recovery from COVID-19. Those who stay for more than 72 hours will need to present a negative PCR test result upon their return.
An Israeli child receives a COVID-19 vaccine, at Clalit Covid-19 vaccination center in Petah Tikva, on June 6, 2021. (Flash90)
Israel’s mass vaccination drive, which has already given both shots to over half the population, along with lockdown measures, brought down the number of new daily cases (based on a weekly average), from 8,600 at the peak of the health crisis to just 19 on Sunday.
At the height of the pandemic, there were 88,000 active cases in the country and 1,228 serious cases; as of Monday, there were 212 active infections and 29 people in serious condition.
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In Jordan, the number of new daily cases was also on a downward trend, with 500 based on a weekly average, and 7,520 active cases as of Monday according to Health Ministry data. At the height of the pandemic, there were 137,385 active cases in the country.
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