TEL AVIV — Israel has erected an undersea barrier to defend
against Palestinian insurgency infiltration.
The Israel Navy has completed the first stage of a barrier off the
northern coast of the Gaza Strip. The barrier was built to prevent the
infiltration of Palestinian fishermen or insurgents from the Gaza coast into
Israeli territorial waters.
"The aim is to prevent Palestinian boats of any kind from wandering into
Israeli waters," an official said.
[On Feb. 1, Palestinian insurgents blew up a boat near an Israel Navy
patrol off the southern Gaza coast, Middle East Newsline reported. Israel did not report any injuries or
casualties.]
The first phase of the $4 million project consisted of a 150-meter
cement wall embedded three meters into the sea floor. Officials said the
project began in May 2005 and ended in September as Israel withdrew from the
Gaza Strip.
Since then, the navy has been working on the second phase of the sea
barrier. Officials said this comprised of a 10-meter-deep floating steel
fence anchored by concrete bolts. The fence was designed to extend 800
meters into the Mediterranean.
The floating fence was designed to stop Palestinian insurgency
speedboats from entering Israeli waters, particularly toward the nearby port
of Ashkelon. The fence, which acts as a net, was meant block a vessel that
travels at speeds of up to 50 knots.
Officials said the project could be replicated along Israel's sea border
with Lebanon. Israel has maintained an underwater rope barrier that extends
two kilometers into the Mediterranean along the northern border with
Lebanon.
