Israel's Defense Ministry has launched ambitious plans for a new security fence along its entire 309-kilometer border with Jordan, marking a significant shift from years of stalled proposals. Defense Minister Israel Katz is spearheading the initiative, though skeptics question its feasibility given the project's enormous scope and cost.
The initial phase, estimated to cost tens of millions of shekels, includes detailed engineering surveys, environmental impact studies, and the construction of a test section equipped with advanced surveillance technology. Ministry officials say these preliminary works will take several months to complete.
While an aging fence currently runs along the Israeli-Jordanian border, security officials consider it adequate for preventing most weapons smuggling attempts. However, the new project aims to create a more comprehensive barrier system.
The announcement comes after years of similar proposals from Prime Minister Netanyahu's governments, all of which faced significant hurdles. Critics point to two major challenges: the extraordinary length of the border and the project's massive price tag, which could run into billions of shekels.
The fate of previous border fence initiatives raises questions about whether this latest attempt will progress beyond the planning stage.
The Times of Israel contributed to this article.