Defense Minister Greenlights Jordan Border Fence Project in Israel

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the construction of a security barrier along the country’s 200-mile border with Jordan, the Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday. The move is part of efforts to prevent terrorist infiltrations and weapon smuggling from the east.

The Defense Ministry stated that “detailed engineering planning” for the barrier has begun. An initial segment of the fence, equipped with advanced surveillance systems, will be built as part of this phase. The planning process, expected to last several months, is intended to prepare the defense establishment for the full-scale construction of the barrier.

Jordan shares Israel’s longest border, and while the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1994, recent tensions have heightened security concerns. Jordan has a majority Palestinian population, and the Hamas-led October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, has fueled fears of pro-Iranian terrorist groups using the border to launch attacks.

Official assessments indicate that approximately 600 people illegally cross into Israel from Jordan each month, compared to fewer than 90 infiltrators arrested in all of 2023. This significant increase has raised alarm within Israel’s security establishment.

The project follows a 2022 government announcement of plans to fortify the eastern frontier to counter Iranian efforts to smuggle weapons and support terrorists in Judea and Samaria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this commitment in September after a Jordanian terrorist murdered three Israeli border guards at the Allenby Bridge crossing.

“We will work to erect a stronger barrier here to stop smuggling attempts,” Netanyahu said at the time. “We do it in coordination with our neighbors. We must ensure that this border remains a border of peace and security.”

The initiative underscores Israel’s proactive approach to securing its borders against evolving threats. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates on Israel’s border security measures.