First Israeli response to ‘Palestine’ recognition? Allenby border crossing to Jordan closed until further notice

Israel closed the Allenby border crossing with Jordan to the movement of goods and people on Tuesday, in its first possible response to the series of announcements recognizing the State of Palestine by several Western nations in recent days.

The border crossing is located near Jericho in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and serves only the transfer of goods, as well as crossings by Palestinians and foreigners.

It is frequently used by officials of the Palestinian Authority, including its President, Mahmoud Abbas, for international travel.

Israeli citizens have been barred from using the border terminal, as Jordan has not recognized Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, which it captured from the kingdom in 1967.

The border crossing was shut at the order of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli media reported. However, there was no immediate official comment on the decision, which was implemented during the Jewish Rosh Hashanah holiday.

On Sunday, Netanyahu had stated that “There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River,” vowing that “the response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States.”

Netanyahu is set to depart for the UN General Assembly after the end of the holiday on Wednesday evening.

Several leaders in the prime minister’s coalition have demanded that Israel annex parts of Judea and Samaria in response to the hostile diplomatic moves. However, Israel’s peace partner, the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia and several other countries, have warned Israel against taking this step.

The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a query by Army Radio, asking whether this is, in fact, a first retaliatory step to recognition of a Palestinian state.

Security officials told the radio station that the decision was transmitted without explanation.

The Allenby Crossing had only reopened earlier this week after a terrorist who crossed from Jordan killed two IDF soldiers.

Army Radio reported that shortly after the crossing was closed, the IDF and Shin Bet arrested a Palestinian suspected of terror activity, who tried to enter Palestinian Authority territory from Jordan.