The Israel–Egypt barrier refers to a barrier Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

 intends to build along sections of its border with Egypt

Egypt

Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...

 in an attempt to curb the influx of illegal migrants and militants.

Background

An old rusty low fence swamped by shifting sand dunes has existed along Israel's Sinai Desert border with Egypt, mainly serving as a marker between the two countries. Smuggling of cigarettes and other contraband, often on camels ridden by Bedouins whose tribal lands straddle the border, has been a long-term problem. In December 2005 Palestinian terrorist incursions into Israel along the porous border led to calls for the construction of a security fence.

Purpose

The barrier is being built to keep out militants and illegal migrants, mainly from Eritrea

Eritrea

Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...

, Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...

 and Sudan

Sudan

Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...

. Thousands of people try to cross from Egypt's Sinai peninsula into Israel every year, seeking work or asylum away from conflict or poor living conditions. In the past years Egyptian border guards have shot dead tens of African migrants trying to illegally enter Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...

 stated that the barrier is meant to "secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character."

Construction

The barrier will be built along two parts of the border. One part will run south and east from Gaza

Gaza

Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...

 for around 30 miles, while a second fence will run north from the Israeli city of Eilat over another 30 miles. It will have two layers of fencing, one with barbed wire. It hopes to block the main infiltration routes along the 266 km (165.3 mi) frontier. The structure will include the installation of advanced surveillance equipment. Eventually the whole border will be sealed. The project is set to cost 1bn shekels (£170m, $270m) and take several years to complete.