Southern border fence project expedited

Defense Ministry orders acceleration of work on new Israel-Egypt border fence with aim of completing it by year's end

Yoav Zitun|Published: 06.13.12 , 22:26

The defense establishment is pushing for the expedited completion of the new Israel- Egypt border fence and expects that the "dune sector" – through which many illegal migrants infiltrate Israel – will be completed in three weeks time.

The southern border project stretches across hundreds of kilometers. So far, 180km of the border's 229km have been completed and military sources said Wednesday that the fence will be completed by October.

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The area, which stretches between Kerem Shalom and Kadesh Barnea, has seen the expedited construction of some 20km of fences in the span of the last 14 days. Once the "dune sector" is finished, defense contractors will turn their attention to the mountainous areas, which stretches across 40km.

Work on the border (Photo: Mark Israel Salem)

While the IDF reported a general decrease in infiltration incidents in the area, Bezalel Traiber, head of the Defense Ministry's Assets and Operations Department, explained that "We're racing against the clock, improving techniques as we go and working all night in some instances."

GOC Southern Command troops are providing security for the defense contractors' teams, he added.

The same teams who are building the new border fence are also building the detention facilities where the Immigration Authority aims to house illegal migrants prior to their deportation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the fence will "help to stem the flood of infiltrators."

The project is estimated at NIS 1.5 billion (about $388 million).