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Shooting Attack at the West Bank-Jordan Border Crossing Kills 3 Israelis

Israeli ambulances are seen at the scene of the attack. (Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service on X)
Israeli ambulances are seen at the scene of the attack. (Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service on X)
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Shooting Attack at the West Bank-Jordan Border Crossing Kills 3 Israelis

Israeli ambulances are seen at the scene of the attack. (Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service on X)
Israeli ambulances are seen at the scene of the attack. (Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service on X)

Three Israelis were shot and killed Sunday at the border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, Israeli officials said, in what appeared to be an attack linked to the 11-month-old war in Gaza.

Israel's military said the gunman approached the Allenby Bridge Crossing from the Jordanian side in a truck and opened fire at Israeli security forces, who killed him in a shootout. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said the three Israelis were all men in their 50s.

Jordan is investigating the shooting, its state-run Petra News Agency reported. The Western-allied Arab country made peace with Israel in 1994 but is deeply critical of its policies toward the Palestinians.

The Allenby crossing over the Jordan River, also known as the King Hussein Bridge, is mainly used by Palestinians and international tourists, as well as for cargo shipments.  

Authorities in Israel and Jordan said the crossing was closed until further notice. Israel later announced the closure of both of its land crossings with Jordan, near Beit Shean in the north and Eilat in the south.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and linked it to Israel's larger conflict with Iran and allied armed groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a surge of violence since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza triggered the war there. Israel has launched near-daily military arrest raids into dense Palestinian residential areas, and there has been a rise in Israeli settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

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Algeria Presidential Election Sees Low Turnout as Tebboune Poised for Victory

Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
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Algeria Presidential Election Sees Low Turnout as Tebboune Poised for Victory

Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)
Officials count the ballots at an electoral office after the end of voting in the presidential elections, in Algiers, Algeria, 07 September 2024. (EPA)

Less than half of Algeria's eligible voters cast a ballot in the country's presidential poll, preliminary figures from electoral authorities showed early Sunday, despite incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune's hopes for a high turnout.

Tebboune, 78, is heavily favored to secure a second term, seeing off moderate Islamist Abdelaali Hassani, 57, and socialist candidate Youcef Aouchiche, 41.

His main challenge was to increase the voter participation level in Saturday's vote after a historic abstention rate of over 60 percent in 2019, the year he became president.

More than 24 million Algerians were registered to vote this year, with about a third under the age of 40.

Electoral board ANIE announced early Sunday an "average turnout" rate of 48 percent, but did not provide the total number of people who cast a ballot.

ANIE said the figure was "provisional", adding that it would give an official turnout rate later on Sunday along with the election's results.

The announcement came three hours behind schedule after the election board said on Saturday evening that it was extending voting by one hour, expecting more voters to show up.

"Voters wondered what was the point of voting when all predictions are in favor of the president," said analyst Hasni Abidi, calling the candidates' bids "mediocre".

He said Tebboune "barely did four rallies", while his challengers "weren't up to the task".

"Not voting does not mean political opposition," he added. "Rather, it means people did not see themselves as part of the electoral game."

Both of Tebboune's challengers had called for a large turnout Saturday morning.

"Today we start building our future by voting for our project and leaving boycott and despair behind us," Aouchiche said on national television after voting.

Hassani told journalists he hoped "the Algerian people will vote in force" because "a high turnout gives greater credibility to these elections".

But Tebboune did not mention voter numbers, saying only that he hoped "Algeria will win in any case" after voting in Algiers.

He said that whoever wins "will continue the project" of what he often calls the New Algeria -- the country that emerged following mass pro-democracy protests.

"I came early to exercise my duty and choose the president of my country in a democratic manner," Sidali Mahmoudi, a 65-year-old early voter, told AFP.

Seghir Derouiche, 72, told AFP that not voting was "ignoring one's right". Two women, Taous Zaiedi, 66, and Leila Belgaremi, 42, said they were voting to "improve the country".

Algerians abroad have been able to vote since Monday.

ANIE is set to announce the official results on Sunday.