Tel aviv: Israel's Defense Ministry announced the commencement of a significant infrastructure project aimed at bolstering national security by constructing a barrier along the border with Jordan. This initiative is spearheaded by the Borders Directorate, in collaboration with the ministry's Engineering Division and the army, and will initially focus on the Jordan Valley, spanning approximately 80 kilometers.

According to Anadolu Agency, the project is designed to enhance strategic control over Israel's eastern border. The construction budget is estimated at 5.5 billion shekels ($1.7 billion) and encompasses a multilayered security system that will stretch roughly 500 kilometers. This system will extend from Syria's southern occupied Golan Heights to north of Eilat in southern Israel.

The barrier is described as a "smart border," incorporating a physical fence, intelligence sensors, radars, cameras, and advanced technologies, as stated by Eran Ofir, the head of the Border Directorate at the ministry. The development comes after Israel's Channel 12 reported on May 18 that the Security Cabinet had approved the barrier's construction following two alleged infiltration incidents involving foreign nationals.

The project is anticipated to address security concerns, though there has been no immediate response from the Palestinian Authority or Jordan regarding this development. The existing border infrastructure includes three crossings: the Sheikh Hussein (Jordan River) crossing, the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, and the Wadi Araba (Yitzhak Rabin) crossing.