Ramallah: Thousands of Palestinian travellers, on Wednesday, spent their second night in a row, waiting patiently on both sides of the Allenby Bridge, and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is holding the Israeli authorities responsible for their suffering.
The Palestinian men and women were either travelling to Jordan or entering the West Bank from the bridge, which connects Jordan to Jericho of the West Bank.
The PNA had earlier relaxed some procedures to make the crossing on both sides easier by introducing reduced fees.
However, the Israelis did not allow time for these plans to be implemented before closing the bridge. In face they have made crossing the bridge more difficult and more complicated.
The PNA said in an official statement that the shortage in the number of Israeli immigration officers was the reason the passengers were being held up for long periods of time.
Hamed N.S, who is a regular traveller to Jordan, said the Israelis have completely changed the procedure for crossing the bridge since last year. He added that it made no sense and was unfair to passengers to keep them standing in lines that stretch for several hundred metres, waiting only to have their luggage labeled.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian travellers have lost hope of crossing and many have returned home. Palestinian officials have complained to the Israelis and urged them to find an immediate solution.
The Israelis have admitted responsibility for the matter, but so far nothing has been done. According to Palestinians, closure of the bridge during summer is potentially catastrophic as thousands of Palestinians living abroad need to travel to the West Bank for their summer vacation. Conditions have now become even worse with an increasing number of Palestinians attempting to cross the bridge to perform the Umrah.
