New X-ray system at Allenby to increase Palestinian exports by 30%

The hours of operation at the terminal will be expanded by an extra two hours from Sunday to Thursday.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
A passenger at the Allenby Bridge crossing 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
A passenger at the Allenby Bridge crossing 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The cabinet on Sunday approved the construction of a new X-ray system at the Allenby Border Terminal between Israel and Jordan that will increase Palestinian exports to neighboring Arab countries by 30 percent, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The hours of operation at the terminal will be expanded by an extra two hours from Sunday to Thursday, the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced separately.
According to COGAT, as of October 24, the terminal will open at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. and close at 1:30 a.m. instead of midnight.
“This is one of the steps and gestures for the Palestinian Authority, which is taken due to the commitment of COGAT during the Donor Conference in New York,” COGAT said.
In addition, the Allenby crossing will be open overnight on Monday to accommodate returning pilgrims from Mecca who had gone there to celebrate Id al- Adha last week.
The Allenby Border Terminal is the only crossing point between the West Bank and Jordan for Palestinians as well for the export and import of Palestinian goods.
The new X ray system, which will speed up the inspection and transit approval process at Allenby, is not likely to be operational until the summer of 2014.
The Dutch government donated the equipment and Israel will now invest NIS 35 million to build the infrastructure for the new system.
The plan to expand operations at the Allenby Terminal was put forward to the cabinet by Regional Cooperation Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud) and Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid).