On Monday, 18 Teves 5773 Israeli officials announced the completion of the border fence to Egypt, 227 kilometers (141 miles) in length, at a cost of 1.4 billion NIS. The cabinet in 2010 decided on the need to build the physical border barrier, which was completed during the two years that followed.

The border project was a national priority as the infiltration into southern Israel from Egypt reached dangerous proportion, resulting in thousands of African aliens seeking work entering the country illegally. Their presence has resulted in the loss of jobs for many locals as they work less expensively. In addition, their presence has resulted in an alarming hike in violent and non-violent crimes in areas where they have settled, primarily in S. Tel Aviv.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)