JERUSALEM, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Israel says it hopes planned barriers along its border with Egypt will help keep out illegal migrants, militants and smugglers.
The barriers, to be erected along the more porous sections of the 155-mile border, are part of a two-year, $270 million project to shore up border security, The Jerusalem Post reported. The sections of barriers will be built in two parts, near the Red Sea city of Eilat and on the edge of the Gaza Strip, the Post said.
"I have made the decision to close the southern border to smugglers and terrorists after protracted discussions with the relevant government bodies," Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday. "We are talking about a strategic decision to ensure the Jewish and democratic nature of the state of Israel."
Netanyahu said Israel will continue to welcome refugees fleeing to save their lives but the flow of illegal workers must be stopped.
"We cannot let tens of thousands of illegal workers infiltrate into Israel through the southern border and inundate our country with illegal aliens," the prime minister said.
The BBC cited Egyptian security sources saying Israel had not informed them of plans for the barrier.
Since May, the British broadcaster said, Egyptian police have killed at least 17 migrants, most of them African. Police say they're attempting to stop human trafficking.
Surveillance equipment and border-control officers will also help keep illegal aliens out, Haaretz reported.
