JORDAN EXTENDS HOURS OF ISRAEL AND WEST BANK CROSSINGS

UNCLAS AMMAN 001787

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ETRD KPAL KWBG JO IS
SUBJECT: JORDAN EXTENDS HOURS OF ISRAEL AND WEST BANK CROSSINGS


1. (SBU) Recent press reports touting round-the-clock opening of the
main West Bank crossing to Jordan for the benefit of Palestinian
commerce are exaggerated. According to Post contacts, Israel made
the announcement without full coordination with the GOJ. Jordan has
nevertheless taken action and Post has confirmed that the opening
hours of the Jordanian terminal at the crossing between the West
Bank and Jordan through the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge have been
extended, for what may be a trial period only, by four hours on
weekdays, i.e. Sunday through Thursday. The opening times of the
other two border crossings with Israel, Sheikh Hussein in the north
and Wadi Araba near Aqaba, remain unchanged.


2. (U) Representatives from each of Jordan's three border crossing
terminals with Israel or the West Bank told Embassy staff that their
hours of operations are as follows:


King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge
Sunday - Thursday
0800 - 2400 for both passengers and cargo
Friday - Saturday
0800 - 1200 for passengers
0800 - 1500 for diplomats
No cargo


Sheikh Hussein Bridge (in the north)
Sunday - Thursday
0630 - 2100 for passengers
0800 - 1830 for cargo
Friday - Saturday
0800 - 2000 for passengers
No cargo


Wadi Araba Crossing (between Aqaba and Eilat)
Sunday - Thursday
0630 - 2000 for passengers
No cargo
Friday - Saturday
0800 - 2000 for passengers
No cargo


3. (SBU) Comment: The public announcements of new border crossing
times at King Hussein Bridge were not closely coordinated with the
GOJ. It is also too early to judge whether the new times will
address the delays caused by the bureaucracy at the border which can
take several hours on the Israeli side. End comment.

Visit Amman's Classified Website at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman

MANDEL