For the second week respectively, the archaeological city of Jericho, east of the occupied West Bank, and its surroundings remain under a tight Israeli closure, with roadblocks and checkpoints set up by the Israeli occupation army on all the roads leading to the city.

Israeli army checkpoints stop and thoroughly check every car leaving the ancient city, causing unsustainable delays and traffic jams.

Residents and travellers 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.

Palestinians have complained that Israel is imposing collective punishment on the entire city, gravely harming it economy 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 yesterday, and conduct searches. The last raid on the camp resulted in the injury of 13 Palestinians, including three seriously.

Source: Palestine News & Info Agency