Thursday, August 18, 2011

Why the terror attack near Eilat happened


Israel Matzav

In the liveblog, I mentioned that the border with Egypt is open and that the security fence that is supposed to be built along that border has not been built. Here's a story about the lack of progress on building that fence. It's less than 10% complete.

Less than 10% of the security fence between Israel and Egypt has been built despite the fact that the budget was approved over 18 months ago.

Segments near Netafim and Carmit are still open, left completely unsecure and without the promised security fence. So far the IDF has been trying to manage the situation by monitoring the area with cameras and radar scans.

However this sort of hermetical cover is easily penetrable, making it possible to cross the border with ease. n January 2010, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the estimated NIS 1 billion (approx. $28 million) construction plan to build a security fence at two sections along the Egyptian border, one near the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah and another near the southern city of Eilat.

The fence was expected to be completed by the end of 2012 and to cover some 230 kilometers (approx. 142 miles). So far a fence has only been build along 20 kilometers (approx. 12 miles), and by the end of 2011 officials expect to finish work on a total of 100 kilometers (approx. 62 miles).

However according to the Defense Ministry, so far about 45 kilometers (approx. 27 miles) have been completed out of the planned 210 kilometers (approx. 130 miles).

...

Since construction plans began, there has been a 50% drop in the number of infiltrators entering Israel compared to last year.

Notice that there's no mention of why more of the fence has not been completed. The fact that a budget was approved doesn't mean that money was actually allocated. We Israelis are familiar with that sort of thing....

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