Closure of Karameh Crossing Strains West Bank Economy
The Karameh crossing, a critical commercial link between Jordan and Palestine, remains closed following a tragic incident where three Israeli security personnel were killed by Jordanian truck driver Maher Al-Jazi. This closure, which began on September 9, has severely impacted the West Bank economy, exacerbating existing pressures on local livelihoods and commerce.
Located east of Jericho, the crossing—known as Allenby by Israelis and King Hussein Bridge by Jordanians—has seen approximately 300 trucks, primarily transporting goods like cement, rendered inactive. This has left around 300 drivers unemployed and has created a ripple effect, affecting dozens of Palestinian workers and hundreds of indirect beneficiaries, including merchants.
Adel Amro, a member of the Palestinian National Union of Transport Workers, reported that many goods are stuck in Jordanian trucks, leading to significant losses for Palestinian merchants and a shortage of essential items in West Bank markets. The entry of goods from Jordan is heavily regulated by Israeli authorities, requiring manual inspections that further delay the process.
The Karameh crossing serves as a lifeline for the West Bank, facilitating both exports and imports, particularly through the Jordanian port of Aqaba. However, the Israeli Airports Authority, responsible for its management, has been unresponsive to calls for reopening the crossing, according to local media reports.
Economic Implications and International Response
The closure of the crossing comes just months after a Jordanian-Palestinian agreement aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, which sought to increase the volume of trade exchange to one billion dollars annually. Economic expert Thabet Abu Al-Rus emphasized that this prolonged closure will adversely affect 14 agreements signed to boost inter-trade, leading to rising prices in the West Bank due to limited truck access.
Data from the Palestinian Ministry of Economy indicates a 227.6% increase in imports from Jordan over the past decade and a 50.2% rise in exports. However, the Paris Economic Protocol of 1995 continues to restrict the Palestinian economy, limiting trade primarily to Israel and hampering growth.
As the situation unfolds, calls for intervention by international and human rights organizations are growing, urging the Israeli government to reopen the crossing and alleviate the economic strain on the West Bank. The ongoing closure not only threatens local livelihoods but also undermines recent efforts to strengthen trade relations between Jordan and Palestine.
