JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The official border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan was closed on Thursday due to sanctions imposed by border control workers of the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) said in a statement.

"A real, prolonged security risk for the workers due to the lack of security presence at the site" prompted the closure of the crossing, according to a statement by Israel's State Employees Union.

"Unfortunately, we have already witnessed a terrorist attack where three workers were murdered, but it did not lead to any significant change despite our repeated demands," the union said, urging the PIBA to act quickly and find an immediate solution to the situation.

Yaniv Levi, spokesman for Israel's General Federation of Labor, told Xinhua that the border control workers are expected to return to work on Friday unless a new decision is made.

The Allenby Bridge border crossing, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is jointly managed by the IAA and Jordan's Public Security Directorate. It is the sole designated exit and entry point for West Bank Palestinians travelling abroad by land. Israeli citizens are not permitted to use the crossing. Enditem

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