Three killed in shooting attack on Jordanian border

Allenby Bridge attack: Three Israeli civilians working at the Allenby Bridge border crossing were killed in a terrorist shooting attack on Sunday morning.

• The shooter was a 39 year old Jordanian truck driver who exited the vehicle during a routine inspection at the terminal and opened fire killing three workers.
• The three victims were named as: Yohanan Shchori, 61, a father of six from Ma’ale Efraim; Yuri Birnbaum, 65, from Na’ama; and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer, from the city of Ariel.
• Security guards on site returned fire at the terrorist, killing him.
• President Herzog expressed his deep condolences to the families, adding, "The peace agreements between Israel and its neighbours are a cornerstone of stability in the region, and we trust all parties will thoroughly investigate the incident and work to prevent future attacks."
• He added, "This horrific act reinforces our resolve to stand firm in the face of terror, and we will continue to fight with determination against terrorism and extremist elements which seek to undermine our security, and the stability of the whole region.

The north: Syrian media are reporting that Israel attacked several targets inside Syria overnight. 

• Syrian state media says that overnight strikes it blamed on Israel killed at least 14 people in central Hama province. 
• Reports suggest that several missiles targeted the scientific research facility in Masyaf, which is used by the Iranian military. The compound has been targeted several times in the past. 
• The site is known as a major military research centre, including the development of chemical weapons.
• Israel has not commented on the attacks.
• Meanwhile over the weekend Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets towards civilian communities in northern Israel.
• Around 50 rockets were launched on Saturday nightand early Sunday morning. About 30 rockets were fired at Kibbutz Shamir in the Galilee panhandle and at the northern Hula Valley. Some were intercepted and the others fell in uninhabited areas without causing injury. 
• Separately about 20 rockets were fired at Kiryat Shmona. Most were intercepted and others fell in uninhabited areas. 
• In a familiar pattern, the IDF responded by attacking Hezbollah launchers and other military infrastructure.     

Context: Over the weekend Israel marked 11 months since the October 7^th attack and the subsequent attacks from other areas. 

• This latest attack on the Jordanian border could imply an eighth front has opened against Israel. In the last 11 months Israel has been attacked from Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Yemen. 
• However Israel is reticent to refer to it in that way, as unlike the other countries Jordan remains a key ally.
• Since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, the two countries have cooperated extensively on security and intelligence sharing.  Israel has helped the Hashemite Kingdom face threats from Islamist extremism and Israel relies on Jordan to help police their shared border.
• In recent times there has been growing concern that Iranian proxies have been looking to breach the border and smuggle weapons into the West Bank. 
• The Allenby crossing is primarily used to import goods from the Arab world into both Israel and the West Bank. It is also used by Palestinians to leave the West Bank via Jordan, whist Israelis use alternative crossings to the north and south.
• The bridge is named after the British commander who defeated the Ottoman Turks in the First World War, famously capturing Beersheba and Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and Megiddo.   
• Meanwhile inside Israel mass protests have continued over the weekend, urging a deal to release the hostages. However the latest prospects appear to be bleak. 
• US officials have been working on a final bridging proposal but at this point are not even sure if it is worth presenting as the gaps between Israel and Hamas remain large.  A secondary consideration is concern that if President Biden is publicly seen as failing, which could harm Vice President Harris’s campaign domestically.
• Hamas has appeared to toughen its demands, including insisting that murderers be released in exchange for wounded and chronically ill male hostages. Until now, Hamas agreed that murderers would only be released in exchange for female Israeli soldiers who are being held hostage.
• Israel had hoped that the US would apply more pressure on Hamas via Qatar, which could include expelling its leaders and closing their bank accounts.  
• Also over the weekend, the IDF withdrew its troops from Jenin, having fought there for the last 10 days. The operation included several locations across the northern West Bank including Jenin, Tulkarm and Faraa. 
• The objective was to target Iranian-supported Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist infrastructure. According to the IDF, 36 terrorists were killed and 46 others were arrested. The IDF also found and confiscated 24 guns and destroyed three bomb-making laboratories. Several dozen improvised explosive devices that had been planted in advance were found and destroyed by IDF Engineering Corps troops. 

Looking ahead: While Israeli authorities said that the border crossing would remain closed, the Jordanian government announced that it would re-open to civilian traffic today, although trucks are not being allowed to use the crossing at this point.

• Despite the withdrawal from Jenin, the IDF have stated that they would return if they need to. 
• Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has reissued her advice to the prime minister that a state commission of inquiry (COI) is the best tool for preventing international arrest warrants from being issued against senior Israeli officials.  A state COI is viewed as preferable over a governmental commission as it would ensure complete independence from political influence.