Israel Cabinet Approves $280 Million for Barrier
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JERUSALEM — Israel’s security Cabinet approved in principle plans to build a fence along parts of the border with Egypt amid concerns Palestinian Arab militants will enter the country, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.
Israel may spend as much as $280 million to construct a fence along parts of the 120-mile border by 2010 under the plan, which was proposed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and approved yesterday, Shlomo Dror said by telephone.
The government has grown concerned about Palestinian Arab terrorists from the Gaza Strip entering Israel from Egypt after militants belonging to the Islamic group that controls the enclave, Hamas, blasted holes through the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on January 23, Mr. Dror said.
Two suicide bombers who struck in Dimona on February 4, killing one Israeli, probably came from the West Bank, Mr. Dror said. Even so, Israel is concerned that among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who streamed through the Gaza-Egypt border while it was opened there were terrorists and weapons smugglers.
The border was opened for about 11 days before Egyptian security personnel began closing it this week.
Israel has fenced off its border with Gaza and is building a barrier that straddles its pre-1967 border with the West Bank in a bid to stop terrorist attacks.
