ISRAEL'S NEW UNDERWATER WALL

Israel building underwater wall (WorldTribune)
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.