By May Angel
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel will reopen the only crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan to passenger traffic only, starting Friday morning, the Israeli Airports Authority said on Thursday.
Israel shut Allenby Crossing last Friday after a driver bringing humanitarian aid from Jordan for Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli soldiers there. After briefly reopening it on Monday, Israel closed it indefinitely on Tuesday.
The gateway, also known as the Karama Crossing, serves as the main thoroughfare for West Bank Palestinians to travel abroad and is used by trucks carrying commercial goods between Jordan and the West Bank.
The decision to partially reopen it was made in accordance with the “directive of the political echelon,” the authority said.
Trucks using the crossing also carry aid bound for Gaza, and these will not be able to get through under the current directive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will respond to countries including France, Britain, Canada and Australia’s move to formally recognise a Palestinian state once he returns from his U.S. visit that includes a meeting with President Donald Trump.
Some of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition allies have said the government should annex the West Bank in retaliation to Palestinian statehood recognition.
(Reporting by May AngelEditing by Ros Russell)
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