From Jordan To The West Bank : Travel In The Region

This is comparatively hassle-free if you came into Jordan from Egypt, Syria, or elsewhere, but highly problematic if you entered Jordan from the West Bank. Regardless, you’ll need a West Bank permit issued by the Ministry of the Interior in Amman (see Amman Practical Information). The process takes three working days and two revenue stamps, available at post offices or sometimes from a kiosk near the ministry. Preferred religions on the application are Christianity and Islam, hut the most difficult application blank will be “port of entry to Jordan.” Applicants listing Queen Alia Internationa! Airport, Aqaba, or Ramtha (on the Syrian border) have experienced the least problems.

If you came from the West Bank and indicate the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge as point of entry, however, you are implying that you consider the West Bank to be Israeli territory and will be summarily denied a permit. Write Jerusalem or try leaving the question blank and explaining that you never entered Jordan since the bridge is not an international border. Those trying a West Bank-Jordan-West Bank itinerary may be denied a permit solely because of an officer’s crotchety mood; try again if you are denied the first time. Start out as early as possible; the Jordanian authorities will not issue passes past lpm.

With West Bank permit in hand, you may leave Jordan via the King Hussein/ Allenby Bridge. Catch a shared taxi to the bridge from Abdali Station in Amman, or reserve a seat on the daily JETT bus. This is actually a busy transit point; if you buy a bus ticket past 10:30 or 1 lam you might not even be able to get on.(See Amman Practical Information.) A JETT bus will take you all the way to the Israeli checkpoint. A taxi will take you only as far as the terminal for foreigners; you’ll have to take a shuttle bus to the Israeli side. Israeli officials may ask young travelers for evidence of financial security, and will always search your luggage-and person-thoroughly.

From the border, shared taxis in the West Bank run to many destinations. The Sha-heen Bus Company provides air-conditioned transport roughly on the hour between 1 lam and 3 or 4pm. You may pay for transportation on the West Bank with Jordanian dinars.