Ben the Builder Has a New Fence in Mind

Possibly inspired by that thing on the U.S.-Mexican border, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel will construct a $1.5 billion fence along sections of its border with Egypt, claiming it will “ensure the Jewish and democratic character” of Israel. —JCL

Haaretz:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday ordered to construct a fence at a cost of $1.5 billion along two segments of Israel’s border with Egypt, in an attempt to stem the infiltration of migrant workers as well as of terrorist elements into Israel.

Netanyahu told officials gathered at the Prime Minister’s Office that the goal of the project “was to ensure the Jewish and democratic character of the State of Israel.”

“We shall remain open to war refugees, but we will not allow thousands of illegal migrant workers to flood the country,” Netanyahu added.

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AP / Emilio Morenatti

Israel is no stranger to fences. This one—declared illegal by international courts—stands near the Palestinian enclave of Ramallah.