In an effort to halt the importation of illegal drugs and weapons, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed for the construction of a “security fence” along the 300 km border between Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Following the installation of a security fence along Israel’s border with Egypt, Netanyahu claimed on X, then known as Twitter, that this had prevented a million “infiltrators” from Africa “who would have destroyed our country.”
He now wants to implement this “security measure” on the borders with Jordan and Israel in the occupied West Bank. Israel controls the border of the occupied Palestinian area.
“Now we will build a fence on our eastern border (with Jordan) to prevent infiltration from there as well. He tweeted, “We will defend our nation and defend our borders.
According to authorities, “militias” are allegedly involved in the smuggling of drugs and weapons into Israel across the Jordanian border.
Israel controls access to and exit from the West Bank and occupies the region. In addition to being under Israeli blockade, Gaza’s border is also shut off by a security fence, limiting the entry of necessities.
There is currently an outdated fence along Israel’s border with Jordan, but upgrading it to the same standards as the compact, high-tech barrier along the Eilat-Aqaba border between southern Israel and Jordan would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Similar promises to upgrade the Jordanian fence were made by Netanyahu while he was the prime minister in the past.
The border has been identified by “terrorist groups” as a “weak spot,” and they are refocusing their efforts there in preparation for “attacks,” according to Yoav Gallant, the defence minister.
According to The Times of Israel, he stated last summer that “looking ahead, we intend to erect a barrier on the border with Jordan as well.”
Recent remarks by Netanyahu on the issue were made after violence between two competing groups of Eritrean immigrants erupted in Tel Aviv.
Eritreans, who are fleeing a brutal regime, are not recognised as asylum seekers in Israel; instead, they are considered economic migrants. The majority of Eritreans living in Israel arrived before a security fence was built along the border with Egypt, which Tel Aviv maintains reduced the number of illegal immigrants entering the nation.
After the disturbances on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that although all African migrants would eventually be deported from Israel, those responsible for the clashes over the weekend would be expelled right away.
He declared, “We urge tough measures against the rioters, including the quick deportation of individuals who participated.
Additionally, Israel maintains what is known as the apartheid wall or separation barrier through the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu has previously stated his desire to “enclose the entire state of Israel in a fence.”
