Israeli defense ministry may start the construction of a security fence along the border with Egypt next month, Israeli media reported.
The fence, estimated to cost some $285 million, will be equipped with modern security systems and is designed to prevent Islamic militants, drug dealers, African migrants and asylum seekers from entering Israel from Egypt.
"The problem of illegal infiltrators in the south presents a threat to the Jewish and democratic character of Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying by Haaretz. "The urgency of this problem requires close and focused treatment."
"I want to see actual results of the beginning of a barrier on the ground within the coming weeks. In four weeks, the cabinet will be meeting again and will hear the defense establishment's report on the matter," the premier told his political-security cabinet.
The project was approved earlier this year and works were due to start in July, but were delayed over disagreements on budgeting.
According to Israeli estimates, at least 1,000 people, mainly African migrants, illegally cross into the country from Egypt each month.
The move has already drawn criticism from the country's human rights groups, who accused Netanyahu of "particularly short historic memory."
"Many of those arriving in Israel over the Egyptian border are asylum seekers, escaping atrocities in their own land. A state set up by refugees cannot turn its back to refugees of war who seek asylum," Civil Rights Association Israel and the Hotline for Migrant workers said in a joint statement.
TEL AVIV, October 28 (RIA Novosti)
