The Israel government has given the go-ahead to plans to erect a barrier along parts of its southern border with Egypt. It will help stop the influx of African refugees and terrorists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday. Advanced surveillance equipment will be installed to enable border control officers to spot infiltrators.
Thousands of African immigrants enter Israel each year, fleeing conflict back home or searching for a better life in the Jewish state. Among them are many refugees from Darfur in western Sudan. These and other refugees from conflict zones are still welcome, provided they enter legally, according to Mr Netanyahu. He said the influx of thousands of illegal immigrants had to stop and added that the barrier should “secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character”.
The barrier will cost 190 million euros and take two years to complete. It won’t be erected along the entire 266-kilometre border, but will secure the Gaza Strip and Red Sea resort of Eilat.
West Bank
The project is reminiscent of the West Bank security barrier being constructed by Israel, consisting of a network of fences surrounded by a wide exclusion area and high concrete walls up to eight meters high. Located mainly on Israeli-occupied territories in the West Bank, the barrier has been the source of much controversy. In 2004, the International Court of Justice declared that "construction of the barrier is contrary to international law."
The new fence is unlikely to trigger a similar international outcry. Security sources in Egypt, which for its part is building an underground barrier along its border with the Gaza Strip to stem Palestinian arms smuggling through tunnels, confirmed that Israel had not informed them of the plan. But they seem to be not the least offended. One of them was quoted as saying that the project was an internal Israeli matter "which Egypt has nothing to do with as long as the fence is built on Israeli soil".
Sealing the border
Our correspondent David Poort adds that:
“This is a sovereign country which is protected by an internationally recognised border, so this is unlikely to cause any trouble for Israel or Egypt. We have to keep in mind that this fence won’t be built along the full stretch of the Israeli-Egyptian border. The plan is to erect a fence on the border near the Gaza Strip and another fence near the town of Eilat on the Red Sea.”
“These are two of the weakest spots on the border where most of the smuggling takes place. And the stretch in the middle which won’t be covered by this fence will be easier to monitor because it will be shorter and it’s rough terrain with hardly any roads leading to it.”
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Mon, Jan 18 05:15 PM
Islamabad, Jan. 18 (ANI): Pakistan should end its policy of supporting insurgents, as the shelf life of so-called "strategic assets" is over and unleashing them any more would create problems for the country sooner or later, a Pakistani newspaper has opined.
"Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world and the epicentre of terrorism. Instead of hiding our heads ostrich-like in the sand, we need to end this policy of supporting our so-called strategic assets. The shelf life of such a policy has ended long ago," according to an editorial published in the Daily Times.
The edit further said that Pakistan has a long history of letting its soil be used for cross-border terrorism, but now the country needs to understand that insurgent elements have done more harm than good.
"We cannot deny the fact Pakistan has had a long history of letting its soil be used for cross-border terrorism. Now that we have committed to not let our soil be used for cross-border terrorism, it is hoped that this 'commitment' will be followed in both letter and spirit," it said.
A continuation of support to militias would not only brew trouble to Pakistan and neighbouring countries but to entire world, the report said.
"We have to understand that if we unleash militias of fanatical bent, sooner or later they will create trouble for us as well," it said.
"A continuation of this policy will not only spell trouble for Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region, but the entire world. It is a critical struggle and can only be won by eradicating terrorism from our soil," it concluded. (ANI)
See this news to know, why wall is essential for some countries: Aseem Bassi, Hindustan Times Attari, January 14, 2010 First Published: 13:17 IST(14/1/2010) In a major breakthrough the Border Security Force (BSF) has nabbed a Pakistani potential suicide bomber named Numan Arshad from the Attari sector of the Indo-Pak border. The young suicide bomber, who has attended various militant training camps in Pakistan and has an expertise in operating pistols, missiles and suicide jackets, was nabbed when he was hiding near the fence to note down BSF locations.
I am with Israel. Every country has a right and a duty to protect its citizens and territory from enemies and terrorists. It would be ridiculous to endanger its citizens to be just politically correct for the international media and observers.Just as India is. We in our effort to please the Muslim voters, and the West, have endangered our citizens from Pakistan, from all sides. Though we have an electrically charged barbed fence with Pakistan, still it manages to push in infitrators and terrorists to destabilise India, through the treacherous terrain and porous borders at places. The road and rail treaty with India, is being used by Pakistan to smuggle drugs, fake currency and weapons. They use travellers, goods and ISI agents to do this.Recently a border security personnel was killed in the J&K sector as Pakistani Rangers indulged Indian forces on a gun battle in foggy conditions, while they sabotaged the fence at two places to push in the infiltrators. Few days back, Pakistan launched several rockets inside the Indian territory of Amritsar. Few weeks back the Pakistani police arrested a fidayeen group who were planning to blast the Wagah-Attari checkpost at Amritsar, where thousands of people come to witness the flag ceremony in the evening. India is suffering for so long, due to its soft approach with Pakistan. What we need is Israeli approach to protect our citizens. I wish we could have a wall with Pakistan too as all the peace treaties with Pakistan are one-sided, and despite the internal turmoil in Pakistan, they haven't stopped terrorising India.
Walling itself into a ghetto.
You won't say this, Arev, if your Germany was surrounded by enemy countries! You are safe because, the countries surrounding you like Denmark, Netherland, Belgium,France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Poland are civilised and friendly countries.
"Walling itself into a ghetto"........How about walling itself from Hamas and the ghetto it inflicted upon it's people. G-d bless the citizens of Gaza who truely know that Israel is not their enemy but are too scared to speak-up against the tyranny of their own elected officials.
"Thousands of African immigrants enter Israel each year, fleeing conflict back home or searching for a better life in the Jewish state"......Why would anyone flee to Israel for a better life? According to a vast majority of Palestinians, Israel is a terrorist state. Is Israel a better place for the Africans to start a better life? Maybe, Hamas should give-up their terrorism against Israel and let it's people enjoy a better life. Hamas will let it's people die by the thousands in order to prove how evil Israel is; whereas, innocent humans will flee accross Africa to start a better life in Israel. G-d bless Israel, G-d bless the Africans who want a better life, and G-d bless those Palestinians who have to live under the tyranny of Hamas. Stop terrrorising and maybe the fence will go down. Israel is not going away so you might as well stop destroying the terorism.
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