The Karni Border Crossing serves as a cargo - handling terminal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli Government has appointed the Israeli Airport Authority to set up and run the new cargo terminal.  The main consideration for this appointment was the IAA's vast and long-standing experience in operating the border terminals between Israel and Egypt (the Taba, Nitzana and Raffa terminals), and between Israel and Jordan (the Arava, Allenby and Jordan River terminals). 

The new terminal was planned and constructed through 1997 and 1998, and is adjacent to the previously used terminal.  The new terminal was built on an area of approximately 50 acres, a soil formerly used for agriculture, and owned by Kibbutz Nahal Oz. 

Both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides of the new terminal were planned and constructed simultaneously by the IAA.  50 million Shekels were invested in infrastructure, while an additional 10 million was spent on security measures.

The new terminal began its operation in April of 1999; at the same time, the operation of the old terminal was transferred to the new one, until the final closing of the passageway on the Palestinian side of the border.