Schematic for Cross-Border Terminal Operations

World Bank Technical Team - June 26, 2005 - Back to Resources Page [1]

This note should be read alongside “An Assessment of Progress in Improving
Passages and Trade Facilitation” (World Bank Technical Team, June 19, 2005). It is intended
to help the parties design border terminals together, and is based on the consultant’s experience
with such matters in over 20 countries world-wide---as well as on an appreciation that there are
special requirements and sensibilities on the Israeli/Palestinian border. At the outset it is
important to point out that the challenge of assuring a managed, predictable flow of commercial
goods in a context in which security must also be assured is common to very many border
operations in the post-9/11 environment.

2. Cargoes need to be differentiated according to their handling requirements and security
risks. It is assumed that this will require

- either separate facilities located at different crossing points (redundancy),
- or facilities that are physically separated but using a common crossing point

3. The proposals below are intended to apply to a crossing between Gaza and Israel under
current conditions. Once a more normalized trade environment is established, the amount of
scanning and inspection can and should be reduced. The inspection regime and the use of
scanners described below is based on an agreed, transparent management system. Under such a
system, processes need to be made clear to shippers and transporters, not altered unilaterally or at
random. The use of enhanced technology and sound terminal design will not result in
competitive trade for Palestinian products unless there is a radical change in today’s management
ethos. The consultants’ proposals are made with this objective in mind. They also are made in a
manner which gives high priority to Israel’s security concerns. As pointed out in paragraphs 10
and 18 of “An Assessment of Progress in Improving Passages and Trade Facilitation”, adoption
of layered inspection techniques should lead to a considerable enhancement in Israeli security

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World Bank Technical Team - June 26, 2005 - Back to Resources Page [1]