Allenby Bridge closure after deadly attack at border crossing

Israel ordered the closure of the Allenby Bridge border crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan this week, a move that has stranded Palestinians, halted much cross-border trade and heightened tensions after a deadly attack at the terminal. Palestinian and Jordanian authorities said the crossing would remain shut from Wednesday until further notice, after Israeli forces initially closed the gateway following the killing of two Israeli soldiers there on Thursday.

Israeli military officials said the assailant was a Jordanian truck driver who arrived at the crossing in a vehicle carrying humanitarian aid bound for Gaza. Jordan condemned the attack and said it was investigating. The Israeli military also said it had advised blocking further transfers of humanitarian consignments from Jordan until Amman completed its probe and revised security procedures.

The Allenby Bridge, known in Jordan as the King Hussein Bridge and on the Palestinian side as the Karama crossing, is the principal land route for more than 3 million West Bank residents to travel abroad and the main artery for commercial goods between Jordan and the West Bank. Palestinian authorities and Jordanian...