Middle East News
Israel expedites construction of Egypt border obstacle
Feb 8, 2011, 15:24 GMT
Tel Aviv - Israel is speeding up construction of a security obstacle along its more than 200-kilometre-long border with Egypt, in light of the turmoil in the regional superpower.
The construction was scheduled to be completed in mid-2013, but will now be completed in late 2012, Israel Radio reported.
It is to be a fence only in some areas - mainly near the Red Sea resort of Eilat - but along most of the border the obstacle involves watch towers, sensors and alarm systems.
Senior Defence Ministry officials toured the border area Tuesday to inspect progress on the works.
They said that the number of illegal migrants infiltrating Israel dropped 'significantly,' after part of the barrier was already put in place.
A major smuggling route of asylum seekers, women, drugs, weapons and contraband runs across the border, the only land track connecting the continents of Africa and Asia.
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