Jordan crossing to operate 24 hours Thursday

Due to heavy traffic at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank, Israeli authorities decided to operate the crossing 24 hours on Thursday, according to reports. The Hebrew-language daily Maariv reported that the crossing would operate full-time until 8 p.m. Friday. The decision, according to Maariv, was upon a Palestinian request and in coordination with the Jordanian side. The report cited the approaching school year and large numbers of Palestinian expatriates trying to return as quickly as possible to Arab countries after visiting their families in the West Bank. It also said the authorities were accommodating West Bank families who traveled abroad during the summer holiday and need to return to the West Bank before the school year begins. The crossing is run jointly by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Travelers have to make three stops for security checks at terminals staffed by all three countries. It is the only exit for West Bank Palestinians, but it is used by tourists and Palestinian holders of Israeli IDs. More than 1.5 million people travel via Allenby every year. Traffic at the crossing peaks during the summer holiday and during Hajj pilgrimage season.