גשר שייח' חוסיין, Border crossing bridge over Jordan River near Maoz Haim, Israel

Sheikh Hussein Bridge (Ma'oz Bridge) is a ruined Ottoman bridge over the Jordan River in the Beit She'an Valley, near Kibbutz Ma'oz Hayyim. Its stone spans were blown up in 1918 and again in 1946 and 1967; since 1998 a separate double concrete bridge, built by Israel and Jordan with Japanese aid, has carried the Jordan River crossing beside the old remains.

The crossing is ancient: Judas Maccabeus returned this way, Pompey crossed in 63 BCE toward Beit Shean, Muslim forces entered the land here in 638, and Saladin crossed in 1183. The Ottomans built the stone bridge in the late 19th century and blew it up in 1918 during their retreat from the Australian army. Palmach fighters destroyed it on 17 June 1946 in the Night of the Bridges, and in 1967 the Jordanian army demolished it for good.

The Arabic name comes from a Muslim saint's tomb that once stood north of the bridge; in Hebrew it is also called Gesher Ma'oz after Kibbutz Ma'oz Hayyim nearby. Since the 1994 peace treaty it has been officially named the Jordan River Crossing, and a crossing terminal opened beside it shortly afterwards.

Visitors should know this is an active border crossing with special rules and security checks in place. It is helpful to have valid documents ready and check current conditions beforehand.

The ruined Ottoman bridge was blown up in 1918, again by the Palmach on 17 June 1946 during the Night of the Bridges, and finally in 1967 by the Jordanian army. In 1998 a double concrete bridge replaced the Bailey bridge on the same site, built by Israel's Ma'atz on one side and by Jordan with Japanese government aid on the other.