RAMALLAH, June 1, 2017 (WAFA) – The Karama/Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan will be open around the clock starting June 20 through October, the head of the Civil Affairs Authority Hussein al-Sheikh said Thursday.

An exception, however, will be Fridays and Saturdays during which the crossing will continue to operate for only three hours in the morning.

Sheikh said in a statement that beginning of 2018, the bridge crossing will open around the clock for the entire year.

The West Bank side of the crossing is controlled by Israel, which also controls the hours it will be open and when.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared before last month’s visit of US President Donald Trump to the region of certain steps to ease life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.

Palestinian travelers across Karama crossing always complain of long lines and delays on the Israeli side, mainly during the summer months and holidays.

Jordan recently adopted a new system in which travelers seeking to go to the West Bank can make early reservation to facilitate their trip and cut down on time they spend at the crossing.

With West Bank and Gaza Palestinians unable to travel through Tel Aviv airport, their only exist route to the outside world is through the Karama crossing with Jordan. Thousands of Palestinians use that crossing every day.

M.K.