Minister Meir Sheetrit said the lack of fence has led to an increasing flow of refugees from Sudan through Egypt into Israel.

Though the fence would be expensive, he told The Jerusalem Post, it would be "a very small price for Israel to pay compared to what it will cost us if we do not build such a fence."

Sheetrit said there are 300 people coming from Sudan through Egypt each week, but "if we don't stop it now, we will reach 3,000 a week."