Despite the security fence separating pre-1967 Israel from Palestinian Authority, infiltrators take advantage of bureaucratic gaps.
When then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began construction of the security fence more than a decade ago, he pledged that the barrier, which now separates the Palestinian Authority from Israel, would effectively block infiltrations across the Green Line.
Today, however, bureaucratic finger-pointing and indifference at the political echelon have enabled massive daily breaches of the security fence.
The issue came to light last week, as security officials in Samaria acknowledged the ease with which infiltrators from the Palestinian Authority enter Israel along route 505 near Rosh Haayin, about 10 minutes from Petach Tikva.
A single breach in the security fence near the town of Oranit has turned into a regular crossing point for Arab infiltrators. Security officials admitted that Israeli army and police units catch between dozens and hundreds of Arabs each and every day illegally entering Israel through the breach, though many more are never captured.
Oranit Mayor Shlomi Langer notified the Defense Ministry and the regional commanding officer of the dramatic uptick in illegal crossings to, Shaar HaShomron reported. Yet no progress has been made in repairing the breach in the security barrier, which has been damaged for several years.
When pressed about the need for repairs, army officials said the Crossing Authority, a division of the Defense Ministry, was responsible for maintaining the security barrier.
In the meantime, the breach in the barrier has been augmented by a number of secondary routes means of entry. Ladders, mattresses, and wooden planks used for makeshift bridges over the barrier litter the border area. Due to the ease with which infiltrators now enter Israel, day laborers regularly cross into Israel in the morning for work and return in the evening with little trouble.
Israelis, either employers of the illegal workers or drivers paid to bring infiltrators over the border, regularly assist infiltrators, adding to the wave of unauthorized entries. Security officials noted that last week alone they arrested four Israeli drivers accused of smuggling infiltrators over the border.
@ winta:
No, Israel is an active party to the infiltrations. Israel is allowing the employers to use the breach as an avenue for cheap labor. The employers should be investigated and charged, including jail, as well as gov’t officials, including police/border units investigated and sacked, if they are on the take, jail their asses too.
Mere signs posted at this point, after breaches have been passively tolerated do not do the trick, legally, W. Mere signage, which many infiltrators either will not or cannot read, that is what their attorneys will argue in court, is attempting to , and abjectly failing to excuse deadly force. On the contrary. Why do such a thing, W. Not necessary. This will not get Israel off the hook for murder, I am afraid. The UN would love your prescription.
They have to fix the barriers, and improve them to prevent such occurrences as it only takes one breach for a disaster. Improve all of them and to warn and if repeatedly violated by the same individuals, charged and jailed, not wantonly killed for trying to get to their jobs.
the Arab infiltrators must be considered as enemy invaders. Warning signs should be posted. Then people climbing over the walls should be shot. That will end the invasion.