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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTEL AVIV, Israel \u2014 Insisting Israel has “neither geographic or demographic depth” to deal with refugees, migrants and potential terrorists breaching its borders, Prime Minister Netanyahu inaugurated work on Monday to barricade its last barrier-free frontier, a vast desert stretch between the Jewish state and Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting at Eilat on the Red Sea, the first section of the barrier \u2014 budgeted at 280 million shekels (US $71.3 million) \u2014 will extend 30 kilometers north past a new international airport being built in the Arava desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An MoD official estimated the project would cost up to 6 billion shekels ($1.53 billion) to build and many millions annually to maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a recent interview, the official said the Defense Ministry has already spent about $2.5 billion on the barrier around the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem; nearly $1 billion along Israel’s desert border with Sinai and a similar amount along Israel’s northern border with Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, Israel is constantly fortifying its sensor-fused no-go zones and security barriers along its northern border with Lebanon and its southern border with Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Every year, we need a few hundred million shekels just to maintain these essential barriers,” the MoD official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Sept. 6 ceremonies, Netanyahu said the border barrier with Jordan will be akin to the 240-kilometer (150-mile) fence built in recent years at the border with Egypt to keep out African migrants and asylum seekers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Today we are starting to build the security fence along our eastern border, in continuation of the security fences that we built along the Egyptian border. \u2026 We are doing so without infringing in any way on the sovereignty of Jordan, which we respect and view as a partner in maintaining a border of peace,” Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accompanied at the project site by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and senior military commanders, Netanyahu directed that the first section be built within “one year and several months.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n