Thread: Israel Plans High-Tech Barrier Around Gaza

http://www.wral.com/apworldnews/4782761/detail.html

The barrier system will surround Gaza with fences, electronic sensors, watchtowers mounted with remote-control machine guns, and hundreds of video and night vision cameras, the military said.

Now this is border security!!

EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip -- Israel is increasing security at its border with the Gaza Strip in anticipation of next month's withdrawal, the army said Thursday, disclosing details of a high-tech complex to ring the coastal strip with what it hopes will be the world's most impenetrable barrier.

The barrier system will surround Gaza with fences, electronic sensors, watchtowers mounted with remote-control machine guns, and hundreds of video and night vision cameras, the military said.

In the West Bank on Thursday, Israeli forces killed an Islamic Jihad activist in an arrest raid, the military said. Soldiers surrounded a house in the village of Shufa and ordered everyone out. The activist's father emerged and said no one else was inside, but a dog sent in by soldiers found the suspect, and soldiers killed him.

Army Radio reported he was involved in the July 12 suicide bombing in the nearby city of Netanya that killed five Israelis.

Visiting Gaza on Thursday, Vice Premier Shimon Peres called for massive international aid to upgrade the crossings for the good of the Palestinian economy.

"We don't want to leave Gaza and keep Gaza closed. We want to facilitate movement of people and movement of goods," Peres said during a tour of two of the crossings.

Peres, who is overseeing the economic issues connected to the withdrawal, could face significant challenges in carrying out his plan _ especially the cost.

Peres said roughly $120 million is needed to improve the three main crossings. He said the money would be used on new technology that would allow goods to move quickly in and out of Gaza, and to reduce the waiting times for Palestinian laborers entering Israel.

Israeli officials already have begun making improvements to the Erez crossing, the main entry point for Palestinian laborers.

A concrete shell that will become a high-tech pedestrian crossing is under construction. Israeli officials said the terminal is expected to facilitate passage of 20,000 to 30,000 workers a day, three times the number permitted now.

But Israel's main concern is keeping Palestinian attackers out. About 100 suicide bombers have infiltrated Israel from the West Bank in more than four years of conflict, but the current, relatively simple fence around Gaza has prevented most infiltrations by armed Palestinians.

On Thursday, the military laid out its plans for the new barrier, including new army bases and 22-foot concrete walls around nearby Israeli communities to stop Palestinian sniper fire.

The new Gaza barrier draws on experience from the West Bank barrier Israel is building and the high-tech border fence with Lebanon, the army said, but it will be more advanced.

Palestinians trying to infiltrate into Israel _ like a would-be suicide bomber who managed to penetrate the old fence with wire cutters last week before being captured _ will first encounter fence made of coils of razor wire.

They would then have to cross a patrol road before reaching the current barrier, a fence with electronic sensors that sends a signal to a central command whenever it is touched or cut.

If they pass this barrier, they would have to traverse a 130-yard swath of land _ codenamed Hoover _ filled with motion sensors and scanned by an array of day and night optical devices, before reaching the third and newest electronic fence.

Watchtowers armed with remote-controlled machine guns are to be built every 1.2 miles and within a year, remote-controlled, unmanned vehicles will begin patrolling the area.

Running about 35 miles around the seaside territory, the new barrier will cost about $220 million and will be completed by mid-2006, military officials said.

In the central Gaza refugee camp of Bureij on Thursday, Palestinian militants kidnapped a Palestinian intelligence officer, residents said.

People can say what they want about Israel . But they have had more experence than any other country when dealing with terrorism. Our gov. would do well to pay attention to how they deal with it.

There will be no will to finish the barrier. Israel has no will to utilize a wall that would protect them.


They will cave to the cacophony of cries deeming their wall racist, and genocidal.

They will cave to more demands as violence continues.

Attacking Israel pays off pretty well.


Increased attacks during the "disengagement" will allow Hamas-like groups to claim (quite correctly) victory in their campaign.

p.s.
We had better hope this "ethnic cleansing" by the Israeli army fails.
Because this military action could serve as a blueprint of how other
"democracies" can control their people.

I don't think Israel will cave. Why would they? They never have.

But I don't understand your reference to "ethnic cleansing" by the Israeli Army.

US Tax money going down the drain yet again. Israel might be experienced in terrorism but they have caused it. Israel are the ones that introduced terrorism to those of the palestinians and they didnt start using suicide bombing only in the 80's.

Israel is a pain in the US's side!

Pro

opinion's are like a certain part of the body eveyone has one some just stink more than others.

Let's remember this is not storm front web site, and ALIPAC is not in any way related to it.

What are you implying? Charlesoakisland? I am not a Racist as you are trying to brand me. If I am saying what I said seems like it then you are implying that I am being Anti-Semitic, so be it. Though I have traveled to Israel and Palestine and I don’t agree with what Israel has done to the Palestinians people all in the name of the protection of the Israeli people. If that makes me Anti-Semitic then so be it, but I am not a brain washed person that believes what Israel is doing is legitimate by any means. Israel is the biggest propaganda machine and the biggest threat in their so called friends of the US is nothing more than BS.

Pro

If the shoe fits wear if not ignore it.