Israel privatises border crossing with Jordan

Israel has brought in a private company to supervise its crossing with Jordan, the King Hussein Bridge.

Pan-Arab newspaper al-Rai al-Yawm cited Palestinian travellers who had recently crossed into Jordan, who said an unnamed private company had been stamping people's passports and supervising the crossing.

Soldiers are still present at the crossing, but are stationed far from the gates themselves and will not be interacting with travellers, reports the daily.

One of the travellers, Mohammed al-Kharouf, speculates that the decision may be related to the May 2014 death of Jordanian judge Raid al-Zaitar, who died after being shot by an Israeli soldier at the crossing.