TEL AVIV Ñ Israel's military is proceeding with plans to build a border security system along the frontier with the West Bank.
The "virtual fence" project would install ground-based sensors
and a command and control system to alert a rapid response force to
infiltration into Israel. The sensors are meant to be concealed and provide
an all-weather, all-day picture to a command center. The turn-key system
would not require the use of physical barriers and could be adjusted to any
security line or border set by the government.
Officials said the aim of the system is for the military to respond to
any decision by the government to withdraw from the West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the
military has planned the frontier security system based on the lessons from
the rapid Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000.
The ministerial security committee has approved the establishment of a
security system to separate Israel from the West Bank. Officials said the
average width of the frontier would be five kilometers and the government
would finance the erection of 57 kilometers of fencing and physical barriers
to stop infiltrators. The physical barriers would be built in areas where
Israeli and Palestinian communities are in close proximity, such as
Jerusalem, Tulkarm and the Umm El Fahm.
Three major Israeli defense contractors are involved in the pilot
project and have been assigned areas to test their security systems. The
Israel Defense Forces and paramilitary Border Police are also engaged in
four studies to determine the parameters of a flexible border security
regime along a 360-kilometer frontier.
The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, David
Magen, said the cost of the project is estimated at 2 billion shekels, or
$450 million. "The conception is of a security zone with a united command,"
Magen said.
Israeli officials and industry sources said Israel's government has
twice Ñ in 1994 and 2001 Ñ decided to launch a project to ensure frontier
security along the West Bank. But they said the project has been stymied by
the price tag as well as an aversion to delineate a line that would separate
Israel from Palestinian communities in the West Bank. More than 200,000
Israelis live in nearly 70 settlements in the West Bank and Israeli
politicians do not want them to be left isolated.
Under the pilot project launched by the Ground Forces Command, the West
Bank has been divided into three areas. The state-owned Israel Aircraft
Industries would establish a network of sensors and C2 systems in the Hebron
area of the southern West Bank. Rafael, Israel Armament Development
Authority, would be responsible for the Etzion Bloc south of Jerusalem.
Elbit Systems was given responsible for the northern West Bank that borders
Israel.
Industry sources said the military is expected to soon release
operational requirements for the frontier security system, called "Merhav
Tefer." Later, the Defense Ministry would issue a request for proposal [RFI]
for bidders.
