Israel to construct barrier along Egyptian border
17:52 / 11.01.2010 Israel’s government has approved plans for the construction of a barrier along its border with Egypt in a bid to keep out illegal migrants and militants, BBC reports.
It will be built along two parts of the border - near the Red Sea city of Eilat and on the edge of the Gaza Strip, APA news agency reported citing BBC.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was taken to secure Israel’s Jewish and democratic character, but that refugees would still be allowed to seek entry. The construction of sections of barrier that would block the main infiltration routes along the 266 km (166-mile) frontier, and the installation of advanced surveillance equipment had already been approved, he added.
The project is set to cost $270m and take several years to complete.
In recent years, thousands of migrants have crossed into Israel via Egypt.
Israel has also been building a controversial barrier in and around the occupied West Bank in recent years. It says it is needed to defend Israeli citizens from attacks by militants. Palestinians, however, consider it a land grab.
Egypt is meanwhile building an underground barrier along its border with Gaza to stem the smuggling of weapons through tunnels.Bu yazı ( 323 ) - dəfə oxunmuşdur
