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.
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 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.
People waved Jordanian flags, and there were reports of Israeli flags being burned at the event.
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.
Following a meek condemnation by Amman of a terror attack on Sunday at the crossing by a Jordanian truck driver who killed three Israelis, the Allenby Bridge Crossing between Israel and Jordan reopened to pedestrians on Monday morning but remained closed to trucks. In the streets of the capital of Jordan, the murders were joyfully celebrated.
According to the Kan broadcaster, the crossing was reopened after Shin Bet and IDF representatives met with their Jordanian counterparts at Allenby on Sunday night to discuss how to continue operations following the attack.
It’s the only bridge that connects the West Bank and Jordan and is also called the King Hussein Bridge.
As their collaboration between their two countries continues, the report states that the two sides talked about how to enhance security at the border crossing and exchanged information that might be useful in the attack search.
That being said, it took the Foreign Ministry of Jordan about 14 hours to release a statement in which they briefly denounced the terror shooting incident.
Jordan’s strong stance against violence and targeting civilians for any reason was emphasized by the ministry. “.
After denouncing the attack, the statement went on to restate popular talking points in favor of the two-state solution and against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. It also called for “addressing all causes and escalatory steps that generate” violence against civilians.
The ministry further stated that its investigations have led them to believe that a lone attacker was responsible for the attack. Although they did not claim responsibility, terrorist organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad both praised the attack.
On the streets of Amman, thousands of Jordanians rejoiced, believing the gunman had taken revenge for the thousands of Palestinians who had died in the Gaza War, while the ministry released its bland statement.
Social media posts featured footage of fireworks being set off during the protest. At the event, there were reports of Israeli flags being burned and Jordanian flags being waved by attendees.
Maher Dhiab Hussein al-Jazi,39, a Jordanian national from the southern Jordan town of Udhruh, east of Petra, killed three Israelis on Sunday at the crossing: Yohanan Shchori,61; Yuri Birnbaum,65; and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer.
Al-Jazi reportedly got out of the truck he was driving during an inspection at the terminal and opened fire at several of the crossing’s employees, killing three, according to representatives of the Israel Airports Authority, which oversees the land crossing.
The terrorist was killed by return fire from Israeli security guards.
In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty and maintain strong security relations. Every day, dozens of trucks carrying goods from the Gulf and Jordan cross into Israel, supplying the West Bank and Israeli markets.
This report was made possible by agencies and Emanuel Fabian.
