Border security

Israel Invests Billions in Border Barricades

Starting at Eilat on the Red Sea, the first section of the barrier — budgeted at 280 million shekels (US $71.3 million) — will extend 30 kilometers north past a new international airport being built in the Arava desert.

Ultimately, Netanyahu plans to extend the 16-foot barrier "hundreds of kilometers" all along the eastern frontier up to the sensor-supported security fence in place on the Golan Heights.

An MoD official estimated the project would cost up to 6 billion shekels ($1.53 billion) to build and many millions annually to maintain.