The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it had begun “detailed technical planning” to establish a fence along the entire border with Jordan to prevent infiltration into the country – a costly undertaking that has little impact. progressed in the past.
This work follows a directive from the new Minister of Defense, Israel Katz.
The ministry says the planning work, which will cost tens of millions of shekels, will include laying a first section of the fence with monitoring equipment, mapping potential environmental risks and studying the soil.
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The work is expected to last several months, “and it is intended to advance the readiness of the defense establishment for the establishment of a barrier on the border with Jordan, in accordance with decisions of the political level on the issue,” adds the ministry.
The 309-kilometer border that Jordan shares with Israel and the West Bank is surrounded by an aging fence, but military and police officials say it is sufficient to prevent most weapons smuggling attempts.
The idea of strengthening the fence or building some sort of border wall has been floated repeatedly by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other figures for more than a decade, although many consider such an effort to have little merit. likely to succeed due to the very length of the border and its enormous cost.
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