Jordan crossing reopens to pedestrians after deadly terror attack celebrated in Amman
Allenby Bridge Crossing remains closed to trucks; Israeli security forces meet Jordanian counterparts to discuss investigation into murder of three Israelis, upgrading security
The Allenby Bridge Crossing between Israel and Jordan reopened to pedestrians on Monday morning but remained closed to trucks after Amman released a meager condemnation of a Sunday terror attack by a Jordanian truck driver at the crossing in which he murdered three Israelis. The killings were celebrated on the streets of the Jordanian capital.
The reopening of the crossing came after representatives from the Shin Bet and IDF met with their Jordanian counterparts at Allenby on Sunday evening to coordinate continued operations after the attack, according to the Kan broadcaster.
The crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is the West Bank’s sole crossing with Jordan.
According to the report, the two sides discussed how to improve security conditions at the border crossing and shared information that could help with the investigation into the attack, as cooperation between the two nations continues.
However, it took some 14 hours for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry to issue a statement containing a brief condemnation of the terror shooting attack.
The ministry stressed “Jordan’s firm position rejecting and condemning violence and targeting civilians for any reason.”
The rest of the statement reiterated common talking points in support of the two-state solution and against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, with the condemnation of the attack immediately followed by a call for “addressing all causes and escalatory steps that generate” violence against civilians.
The ministry added that its probes have so far concluded that the attack was carried out by a lone assailant. Terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad both welcomed the attack, but did not take responsibility.
While the ministry issued its tepid statement, thousands of Jordanians celebrated on the streets of Amman, claiming the gunman had avenged the deaths of thousands of Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
Videos posted to social media showed fireworks being set off during the demonstration. People waved Jordanian flags, and there were reports of Israeli flags being burned at the event.
Today a Jordanian ???????? truck driver murdered three Israelis in the Jordan-Israel border crossing.
These are the celebration of the murder in Amman, capital of Jordan ????
There is already a Palestinian state. It's called Jordan.
pic.twitter.com/AXY8zZ2nNb— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) September 8, 2024
Three Israelis, Yohanan Shchori, 61, Yuri Birnbaum, 65, and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer, were murdered at the crossing on Sunday by Maher Dhiab Hussein al-Jazi, 39, a Jordanian national from the southern Jordan town of Udhruh, east of Petra.
According to the military and Israel Airports Authority officials — the latter of which manages the land crossing — al-Jazi got out of the truck he was driving during an inspection at the terminal and opened fire at several of the crossing’s workers, killing three.
Israeli security guards returned fire at the terrorist, killing him.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994 and have close security ties. Dozens of trucks cross daily from Jordan, with goods from Jordan and the Gulf that supply both the West Bank and Israeli markets.
Agencies and Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
