GAZA, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Minister of Civil affairs Mohammad Dahlan and James Wolfensohn, the Quartet's special envoy visited Palestinian workers Wednesday at Erez crossing on the border between northern Gaza and Israel.

    They were briefed on the workers' living situation and the measures adopted by Israel to allow them to work inside its borders.

    Dahlan said the visit was aimed at examining the Palestinian workers' suffering with the existence of the barbed wires.

    "The view of Erez crossing reminds me of the Asqalan, Nafha and Central Gaza jails that were built to imprison the Palestinians...these gates are now erected to imprison all the Palestinian people," Dahlan said.

    He added that Wolfensohn came as a representative of the international Quartet to see what is imposed on the Palestinian people by Israeli occupation.

    Israel opened Erez crossing several days ago after it had been closed for nearly a month, preventing some 7,000 Palestinian workers from working in Israel.

    During the pullout period which is due to begin in mid-August, Israel intends to tighten security measures at the Palestinian crossings especially Erez, which Israel threatens to close again. Enditem