Israeli army checkpoints stop and thoroughly check every car leaving the ancient city of Jericho, east of the occupied West Bank, which has been under tight Israeli army siege for the fifth consecutive day.
Residents and travelers to Jordan, who have to go through Jericho to reach the Allenby/King Hussein/Karama bridge crossing, complain of long delays and thorough searches at the army checkpoints placed at all entrances to the tourist city.
The army imposed the siege last week following an attempted shooting at an Israeli restaurant outside Jericho after the army assumed that the alleged attacker has escaped to Jericho.
Palestinians have complained that after the attack, Israel has imposed collective punishment on the entire city, gravely harming it economically particularly during the high season considering that Jericho is a popular destination for internal and foreign tourism at this time due to its warm temperature during the winter season and the beauty of its terrain.
Occasionally, army units break into Jericho, mainly Aqbat Jabr refugee camp, as they did last night, and conduct searches.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency