The Bitter Crossing: The Story of a Crossing in the Grip of the Occupation

In the heart of the West Bank, a Palestinian stands at the Karameh crossing, carrying his travel documents and yearning in his heart. He finds himself subjected to long hours of waiting, inspection, and security checks, amid procedures that are incompatible with either the peace agreements or human dignity. The crossing, officially known as the "King Hussein Bridge" on the Jordanian side and the "Karameh Bridge" on the Palestinian side, is the only land outlet for Palestinians from the West Bank and Jerusalem to the outside world, via Jordan. However, it is effectively under full Israeli security control, in flagrant violation of the promised Palestinian sovereignty.

The Oslo Accords stipulated that the Palestinian Authority would be responsible for managing the crossing on the Palestinian side, while Jordan would assume control on the opposite side. However, reality has revealed a fundamental flaw in implementation: Israel controls every stage of the crossing, from permit issuance to security checks, turning the "dignity" crossing into a daily point of humiliation.

A daily ordeal recurring. The Palestinian journey begins at the crossing days before travel, with requirements for permits or security coordination that may be denied without justification. Upon arrival, the waiting period begins on overcrowded buses, in lines that extend for hours, sometimes exceeding 10 hours, amidst chaotic procedures and the absence of any transparent oversight.

In the summer, the crisis is compounded, as thousands of Palestinians return from the diaspora—particularly from the Gulf, Europe, and the Americas—to visit their families and their land, a season that represents a significant economic boost. However, many are now reluctant to return, as the crossing has become a psychologically and physically exhausting experience.

A shocking number: half a day to cross 100 kilometers! Reports from Palestinian and international human rights organizations indicate that a Palestinian needs an average of 6 to 12 hours to cross the distance of no more than 100 kilometers from Ramallah to Amman, due to checkpoints and inspections, not to mention high crossing fees and procedures that are difficult for the elderly and sick.

Serious economic repercussions: The crossing also represents a commercial lung for the Palestinian economy, both for exports and imports. However, the private sector suffers from shipment delays, Israeli restrictions on the quality of goods, and security measures that impede the flow of products. This negatively impacts prices, the regularity of supply, and undermines investor confidence.

The crossing is also an economic lifeline during the summer, as the return of Palestinians from abroad injects millions of dollars into the market through tourism, family spending, and investment. With the escalating difficulties of crossing, many are reconsidering visiting their homeland, which means the loss of an important seasonal source of income.

Lost Financial Revenues: A Lost Opportunity for the Palestinian Economy. According to official data and Palestinian economic reports, the Karameh Crossing's revenues from fees and taxes could exceed 300 million shekels annually, including departure fees, customs, and shipping and logistics costs. However, the Palestinian Authority does not effectively control these revenues, as most of them go to the Israeli treasury, which manages the crossing both financially and security-wise. In contrast, the Palestinian government bears the operating expenses on the Palestinian side of the crossing without benefiting from balanced revenues. This deepens the fiscal deficit and deprives the Palestinian treasury of a sovereign source of income that could have contributed to financing infrastructure or improving services.

These revenues are part of the funds entering the treasury of the occupying state, and collecting them, like other clearance revenues, becomes a challenge. This negatively impacts the Palestinian Authority's ability to meet its monthly obligations, especially given Israel's continued imposition of successive deductions from clearance revenues under various pretexts.

Palestinian expatriates are reluctant to return. The number of Palestinians abroad is estimated at approximately 7 million, the majority of whom hold foreign nationalities, but some retain their Palestinian identity and are connected to their homeland through land, family, and belonging. They aspire to visit or even return to their homeland one day. However, scenes of queues, delays, and humiliation at the Karameh Bridge are driving many of them to refrain from temporarily returning, or even considering a permanent return. This weakens national ties and deprives the Palestinian economy of a significant portion of its human and financial resources.

These people represent a tremendous human and financial capital that could contribute to the development of the Palestinian economy, knowledge transfer, and investment. However, instead of attracting them, the current crossing system sends a clear message: "Stay where you are."

Towards practical solutions

● International pressure: Diplomatic and legal efforts must be activated to pressure Israel to respect the agreements and enable the Palestinian Authority to effectively manage the crossing.

● Partnership with Jordan: Enhancing bilateral cooperation to facilitate logistical procedures on the Jordanian side and expand the crossing’s capacity.

● Strengthening management on the Jordanian side: Despite the availability of an electronic passenger reservation system, the capacity on the Jordanian side, and the management of the flow of passengers arriving from the West Bank and Jerusalem, still require development and logistical and human support to keep pace with the seasonal increase in passenger numbers, especially in the summer.

● Extending the working hours at the crossing to enable visitors to enter or exit the only border crossing easily and smoothly.

● Updated infrastructure: Develop waiting facilities and services on both the Palestinian and Jordanian sides, including improved ventilation and air conditioning, increased restroom numbers, and expanded shaded areas. Humanitarian support services should also be provided for people with special needs and the elderly, through dedicated corridors and immediate support services to facilitate their dignified crossing from both the Palestinian and Jordanian sides.

Finally, a crossing or a barrier? The Karama Bridge, supposed to be a gateway to dignity, has become a symbol of restrictions. While official documents speak of sovereignty and partnership, the daily queues reveal a different reality. If we want to build a resilient economy and an open society, we must start with the citizen's right to dignified passage.

Crossings are not just transit points...they reflect the state's philosophy, the extent of its respect for human rights, and the extent of its sovereignty over its land and citizens.