The armistice agreement signed by Israel and Jordan following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War called for the establishment of a Special Committee to negotiate developments including free access to the holy sites and cultural institutions and use of the cemetery on the Mount of Olives. However, during the 19 years the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank lasted, the committee was not formed. Non-Israeli Christian pilgrims were allowed to visit the mount, but Jews of all countries and most non-Jewish Israeli citizens were barred from entering Jordan and therefore were unable to travel to the area.