Barak calls for setting up border fence with Egypt

'Construction of border fence an urgent necessity; work must begin immediately to combat terror, infiltrations and crime,' defense minister tells cabinet

Roni Sofer|Published: 02.03.08 , 14:42

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told cabinet on Sunday that he supported the construction of a fence along the Israeli-Egyptian border, specifically near Nitzana and Eilat.

"The construction of a border fence is an urgent necessity, and the work must begin immediately to combat terror, infiltrations and crime," he said.

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The current border with Egypt, which spans 220 kilometers (about 130 miles) from Kerem Shalom to the Eilat area – is almost entirely breached in some sections. In other segments the fence, which was constructed after the peace treaty with Egypt (1979) is low, and in other areas the Egyptians placed barbed wire.

Border Guard units are in charge of sealing off the area, but despite increased patrols in recent years, the border has remained relatively exposed, and Bedouins from the Sinai Peninsula smuggle drugs into Israel with the help of other Bedouins who reside in the Negev.

Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was presented with a plan for a new border fence, but the initiative was nixed due to budgetary concerns. The security establishment and heads of the Negev communities have long since demanded the construction of a new border fence.

The cost of such a fence is estimated at hundreds of millions of shekels.

Fears of possible terrorist infiltrations from Egypt have increased recently with the breaching of Egypt's border with Gaza by Hamas Islamists last month; in light of these developments, the Nitzana-Eilat Highway has been closed for traffic and Israelis are prohibited from traveling in the area.

On Sunday Egyptian forces began closing the breached border with Gaza, stemming the flow of Palestinians across the frontier breached by Hamas Islamists last month, witnesses said.

Egyptian forces brought barbed wire and metal barricades to the only remaining gap in the Egyptian side of the border, allowing Gazans to stock vital goods as relief from an Israeli-led blockade.