ISTANBUL

Israel said Tuesday it will close its main border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan “until further notice.”

The Israel Airports Authority, which oversees the Allenby/King Hussein crossing, said the entry and exit points will be closed as a result of a directive from the political echelon.

According to Israel’s Army Radio, security officials received instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the crossing in both directions.

It was not yet clear if the closure was linked to the wave of international recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Nazmi Muhanna, head of the Palestinian Crossing and Borders Authority, told the official news agency Wafa that Israel informed them the crossing will be closed from Wednesday morning until further notice.

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed that the crossing will be closed to passengers and freight from the Israeli side.

The same crossing was briefly reopened on Sunday following a three-day closure due to a shooting attack that killed two soldiers near the border.

Jordan shares three border crossings with Israel: Sheikh Hussein/Jordan River Bridge, King Hussein/Allenby Bridge, and Wadi Araba/Yitzhak Rabin Crossing.