Israel to Build Security Fence

The construction work of the first segment of a 110-kilometer fence along the Green Line, or the 1967 border between Israel and the West Bank, will be started within this week, according to the Israel Defence Ministry.

Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron told the press that the work to build the fence, from Megiddo city of northern Israel to the Trans-Samarian Highway, would be "continuous" and would be completed within 10 months to one year.

According to him, the construction work will go into full swing within two months.

Earlier in May, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approved thebuilding of the fence to separate Israel from the West Bank territories, but said that it is only a security measure and shouldnot be viewed politically.

During his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday in Washington, Sharon said that Israel will not return to "the vulnerable 1967 armistice lines" or concede its right to defensibleborders.

The fence, initiated by Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer, will cost about 1 million U.S. dollars for every one kilometer, the Defense Ministry sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2002)