Ramallah – The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) sent two letters, one to His Excellency Ambassador Issam Al-Badour, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the State of Palestine, and the other to His Excellency Major General Ziad Hab Al-Reeh, Palestinian Minister of Interior. The letters addressed the violations associated with the advance booking platform for travelers across the King Hussein Bridge, which have spiraled, according to numerous complaints received from citizens through media outlets and social media platforms.
In its letter to the esteemed Jordanian ambassador, the AMAN Coalition pointed out that the declared goal of the platform is to organize the movement of travelers and facilitate their crossing. However, the reality on the ground shows practices that contradict these goals and violate principles of justice. Complaints have been received indicating that people are being exploited by unauthorized individuals illegally selling travel tickets at overblown prices. The AMAN Coalition asserts that this situation has caused the rise of a black market that is exacerbating the suffering of citizens, also violates their rights, and proliferates exploitation and corruption.
The AMAN Coalition calls for the urgent need to tighten oversight and take strict practical measures to ensure the Palestinian people’s right to travel with dignity, without being extorted or exploited, and demands a reevaluation of the advance booking system that is fair, gives equal opportunity to all, and has effective and transparent procedures.
In a parallel message addressed to the esteemed Palestinian Minister of Interior, the AMAN Coalition stressed that the persistent complaints received by various groups and entities indicates that the problem is ongoing, which necessitates urgent and fundamental intervention. AMAN strongly believes these practices reflect a flaw in the mobility and travel regulation, which creates a fertile environment for exploitation and corruption, and infringe upon the dignity of Palestinian citizens and their right for safe and fair movement.
The AMAN Coalition also indicated that the current procedure of the advance booking platform has intensified the suffering of travelers, who are forced to pay added sums to secure their travel outside the official structure. This has led to the emergence of a black market that contradicts the platform's declared objectives, and to the overcrowding of travelers in the VIP section of the bridge, which is physically and financially exhausting. These conditions have also prompted the propagation of bribery as a method for travelers to obtain unimpeded passage.
The Coalition demanded of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior to conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of the advance booking system and the related violations, and to work on adopting more just and flexible mechanisms that ensure equal access to travel services without intermediaries or special privileges.
It also emphasized the urgent need to stop any illegitimate practices in ticket sales or "facilitating" passage outside legal channels. The Coalition also called for an impartial and transparent investigation into the continuous complaints submitted by the people, which would address the deficiencies and put an end to all violations.
