Israel intends to construct a tri-wall and barrier as buffer from Gaza after the military pullout "to ward off Palestinian infiltrators," military Israeli sources are reported saying Saturday.
The Israeli media quoted the sources saying the plan is to construct two new fences in parallel with the existing wall to separate Israeli-controlled territory from Gaza. In some places, the sources said, there would also be a seven-meter concrete wall.
Costing around USD 220 million, Israeli army sources said even this tri-wall might prove insufficient to ward off attacks and urged the army to be on alert and prepared for operations in Gaza even after the pullout and disengagement.
The sources said, "this is the lesson from the Lebanon pullout." Israel is coming into frequent confrontations and combat with Hezbollah operatives since the 2000 pullout with a sole fence along the northern borders.
Back to the tri-wall, the sources said construction is ongoing on two 60-kilometer fences along the Gaza borders, these being barbed wire closer to the borderline from the electronic fence. The latter would have sensors and monitoring equipment as well as remote-operated watch towers and machineguns.
Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned this plan and was quoted telling Radio Palestine "those who seek peace build bridges, not barriers, and the Israeli mentality clearly confuses the two very distinct concepts of defense and security." The best approach is "dialogue," the Palestinian figure stressed.
He expressed anew anxiety that Gaza Strip might be turned into one big prison surrounded with walls and machineguns. "This is not acceptable and we shall not stand for attempts to create any such status quo," the official stated.
|