Israel reportedly to raise Egypt border fence to block African migrants
Published March 15, 2016
The fence between Israel and Egypt, Jan. 2, 2012. (Moshe Milner/GPO/Flash 90)
(JTA) — Israel reportedly plans to increase the height of its fence on the Egyptian border in an effort to keep out African migrants.
Defense officials said Tuesday the fence will be raised by 20 feet in response to an uptick in the numbers of Africans making it over, some using ladders, Haaretz reported.
The fence along the Egyptian border was built between 2010 and 2015. Just 14 people illegally crossed the border in 2014, compared with 12,000 in 2010, but the number has risen to 200 in the past year, according to Haaretz.
Last year, Israeli soldiers fired on Africans who approached the fence, wounding three. An investigation by military police found the shooting was unwarranted.
The Defense Ministry is seeking contractors to raise the fence, Haaretz reported, and the army says other measures to reduce border crossings are planned.
