Israel closes border crossing between West Bank, Jordan until further notice

Israel says it is closing the Allenby Crossing between Jordan and the West Bank in both directions “until further notice.”

The Israel Airports Authority, which oversees the crossing, says the entry and exit point will be closed as a result of a directive from the political echelon.

Nazmi Muhanna, head of the Palestinian Crossing and Borders Authority, tells the Wafa news agency that Israel informed them the crossing will be closed from tomorrow morning until further notice.

Army Radio reports that security officials received instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the border in both directions.

The outlet says they asked the Prime Minister’s Office if the decision to close the border crossing was linked to the wave of international recognitions of a Palestinian state, but did not receive a response.

The border had reopened after it was closed following the deadly terror attack last week, but was again shut due to Rosh Hashanah. It had been set to reopen at the conclusion of the Jewish holiday.

While it had reopened to passengers, the crossing had remained closed to humanitarian aid shipments en route to the Gaza Strip until an investigation into the attack at Allenby last Thursday — in which an aid truck driver killed two Israeli military personnel — is completed and the inspection procedures for Jordanian drivers are updated.