Following last week’s multipronged terror attacks on Route 12 north of Eilat, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz announced he is changing his strategy, permitting the military to increase the use of aerial and ground surveillance, primarily carried out by drones, pilotless crafts capable of monitoring from significant distances without placing troops at risk.

In addition, the chief has ordered an increase in troop deployment along the border as well as working with government officials to expedite construction of an additional 100 kilometers (60 miles) of border fence between Egypt and southern Israel.

The current border realities according to the experts is a main contributory factor to the deadly day of terror which claimed eight lives, since illegals cross into Israel daily, unimpaired, and the terrorists, who were heavily armed, did the very same thing.

Following the deadly attack, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered moving up the planned completion date of the fence, ordering overtime hours and an increased budget for manpower, hoping to have the fence completed by the end of 2012, a year ahead of the current scheduled completion date.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)