Israel will commence the construction of a new fence from Eilat to Timna in the southern part of the country, where a new airport is being built.
Located approximately 30km north of the Gulf of Aqaba and the town of Eilat, the Ramon International Airport in Timna will replace Eilat Airport.
The 30km fence will be installed with sensors, as part of a larger plan to fence the entire southern border with Jordan at a cost of NIS3bn ($765m), Ynet reported.
The security cabinet has approved $34m for the 30km stretch.
The fence is expected to serve multiple purposes for Israel including restriction of migrant movement from across the border.
Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was quoted by the Jewish Press as saying: "To the extent that it is possible, we will encompass Israel’s borders with a security fence and barriers that will allow us to control our borders. We will not allow Israel to be flooded with illegal migrants and terrorists."
Recently, the country completed the construction a fence along the southwestern border with Egypt to prevent illegal immigrants crossing in to the country.
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By GlobalDataThe fence will also protect the new controversial airport that is expected to be opened next year. Jordan has been protesting the construction of the airport as it likely to pose safety issues to the aircraft using the nearby King Hussein international airport in Aqaba, Jordan.
The Jordan Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission has also filed a complaint with the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in this regard.
Israel is in talks with Jordan to convince the latter about the new airport, which is just around 10km away from the King Hussein airport.
Meanwhile, the Hamas has clarified that long term truce with Israel will be possible only after the reopening of Yasser Arafat airport, and the construction of a ship port in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian militant organisation has denied that it is in secret talks with Israel to secure an independent status to the Gaza Strip.
Image: The Ramon International Airport in Timna will replace the existing Eilat Airport. Photo : courtesy of Henrik Sendelbach.