Washington Discontent with Tentative System to Open 24-hour Crossings between West Bank, Jordan

Washington Discontent with Tentative System to Open 24-hour Crossings between West Bank, Jordan

Israel has launched a pilot program to open the crossings between the West Bank and Jordan around the clock, after months of pressure from the US administration, which viewed the matter as a positive initiative towards the Palestinians in the absence of a political horizon.

However, Washington voiced discontent with the Israeli plan, as it had expected the pilot program to extend for weeks or months.

Spokespersons for the Ministry of Transport and the Airports Authority told The Times of Israel that a trial period has been launched to test the ability of the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan to operate around the clock. The launch of the program was postponed several times, which had angered the US administration.

The United States announced during the summer that the Allenby Bridge (King Hussein) crossing would be open 24 hours a day throughout September, so that West Bank Palestinians could travel abroad through Jordan. But that did not happen, as the Israeli authorities informed the Americans that they did not have enough staff to meet the schedule.

The idea of a trial program was proposed instead, and the Ministry of Transportation announced that it would be launched on October 24. However, the