Israel-Lebanon Border: Israel Begins Building Security Wall At Border

Seen from across the southern Lebanese border, an Israeli armored vehicle stands by as huge cement blocks are placed forming part of a separation barrier between the two nations near the Fatima Gate on March 11, 2012. (ALI DIA/AFP/Getty Images)

METULLA, Israel, April 30 (Reuters) - Israel began building a wall on Monday along a 1-km (0.6 mile) -stretch of its border with Lebanon, saying the barrier was necessary to boost security for an Israeli frontier town across from a Lebanese village.

An Israeli security fence already runs along the entire border but the military said defences had to be bolstered with a 5-7 metre-(16-23 feet) high cement wall between the Israeli town of Metulla and the Lebanese village of Kila.

"(The wall is) intended to prevent firing from the Lebanese side into the Israeli side. In the past year and a half there have been a number of incidents," Colonel Amit Fisher, a senior commander on the border, told Israel Radio.

A ceasefire has largely been maintained along the frontier since Israel fought a war against Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas in 2006. U.N. peacekeepers are stationed in the border area in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said the border project had been coordinated with the U.N. force and Lebanese Army.

Israel is also building a security fence in its south, along the border with Egypt's Sinai desert, citing concerns over militant activity and smuggling.

An Israeli barrier also twists through the occupied West Bank. Israel says the project, begun during a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings inside Israeli cities, has bolstered its security. Palestinians call it a land grab and the World Court has deemed the barrier illegal.





(Reporting by Avi Ohayon in Metulla, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Erika Solomon in Beirut, Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Also on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow

• Workers in the Israeli border town of Metulla place cement blocks along a wall that will run several miles along part of Israel's border with Lebanon, on April 30, 2012. (ANCHO GOSH/AFP/GettyImages)

• A worker in the Israeli border town of Metulla fixes part of a fence along a wall that will run several miles along part of Israel's border with Lebanon, a military spokeswoman told AFP. (ANCHO GOSH/AFP/GettyImages)

• A UN soldier carries a barrier along part of the Israeli-Lebanese border on April 30, 2012, the opening day of the building of a high wall, that will run for many miles along the border. (ALI DIA/AFP/GettyImages)

Comments

[A Jew with a View]

09:43 AM on 05/04/2012

If you took all the comments posted about this article and laid them side by side, they would be longer than the wall that this story is about. 1500 posts? Really. Oops, 1501.

[Nwo2012]

04:38 PM on 05/04/2012

is this supposed to be a criticism of something

[A Jew with a View]

11:09 AM on 05/05/2012

I just don't see what the big deal is about the story to warrant 1500 posts other than it is about Israel It does provide the anti-Israel another platform to raise all of the typcial complaints about Israel which has nothing to do with the story.

For example:

The World Court hasn't done much and is looking for a starring role in the Nuremberg Trials. That's why they they say the barrier is illegal. Israel, fortunately, is not going to let that happen

or

When the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, the East German government as well as the Soviet Union defended its construction, saying things like "It is meant for our national defense". When in reality it was built to prevent East Germans from escaping towards freedom in the West, it was built to suppress people not to protect them. And today the Israeli government states that the goal of the Israeli - West Bank Wall (AKA "Apartheid Wall") is too protect Israelis not to suppress the Palestinians.
History has proven the East German dictatorship wrong, it shall prove the same to Israel.

[thebosssssny]

09:06 AM on 05/02/2012

The only problem I have with Israel and this wall is Why didn't Israel build this wall many years ago? When your neighbors want to kill you and try everyway they can, you defend yourselves.

[Charles the Great]

11:14 PM on 05/02/2012

They should have build it well before 2006 when Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli Nationals in their own country. It would have prevented it

[NorthernBorder]

01:05 PM on 05/06/2012

I think we are preparing for the next war with the Hezbollah buiding a wall around Metulla (waht I knew well as Fatahland). Being Iran's stooges they may open fire with their 45000 rokets. The tragedy is they are in warehouses near civilians as by UN truce they arent meant to be there. We will HAVE to bomb the warehouses which will kill many many Lebanese in secondary explosions. If I did pray I would pray I was wrong. I hope the Hezbollah wakes up and understands. They HAVE been explained. Meantime they have said they wont attack us. We will of course be blamed for the carnage - I dont know how else Israel can contend with 45000 rockets and missiles. There is one hope that Hezbolah is in the Govt and may have political interests causing us not to break Lebanon again.

[Donns]

07:42 AM on 05/02/2012

Ya gotta love the cheek of the Israelis. In January 2009 their soldiers ordered a large group of Palistianians into a house to keep them out of the way of operations. The next day they shelled the house killing something like 29 members of one family. After a lot of protests the Israeli Military started an investigation into this crime. This week they finished their investigation and proclaimed themselves innocent of any and all crimes. Pretty neat system. They did a legal investigation and they were cleared - end of story. Wow, what a deal.

[njoytday]

09:10 AM on 05/02/2012

Sounds about right for any government.
12 million murdered in three years by Nazis and one public Nuremberg trial found a handful responsible. Yep, that is how they do it.

[NorthernBorder]

01:11 PM on 05/06/2012

6 million inc ld my fam

[thebosssssny]

09:25 AM on 05/02/2012

Yes your version of the story is identical to Hamas and Hezbulas made up version of the story. In other words it's not what really happenned

[Calamity Jack]

02:45 PM on 05/02/2012

Actually, his description is on all fours with yesterday's article in JPost... a right-wing Israeli rag.

If you think JPost, Ynet, etc. were wrong, please provide your version.

[Calamity Jack]

07:30 PM on 05/02/2012

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=268301

[moshedaveed]

04:34 AM on 05/02/2012

What about the Mexico - America wall; S Korea - N Korea? And all the other walls that ther are in the world. Since Israel has built the Fence there has been no Market, Bus, Cafe suicide bombers. Those that are anti-Israel, look out your window have you not a wall or fence around you property? Ask this question WHY HAVE YOU GOT A WALL/FENCE AROUND YOUR PROPERTY

[Donns]

07:42 AM on 05/02/2012

I do it to keep my Dog in, don't know about you guys.

[enderM]

08:48 AM on 05/02/2012

or other dogs out?

[njoytday]

09:11 AM on 05/02/2012

Poem says "Good fences make good neighbors" and it is still so.

[Calamity Jack]

02:51 PM on 05/02/2012

The wall described in this article is, if you will pardon the pun, perfectly kosher.

It also has nothing to do with "suicide bombers." Nor does the Wall Israel built beyond the Green Line have anything to do with suicide bombers. In that instance, such bombing ended BEFORE the wall even began construction. Further, that wall is breached on a daily basis by thousands of Palestinains looking for work -- so if they wanted to, they could carry out such bombings despite the wall. Indeed, not only is that wall ineffectual for the purpose you state, it isn't even done yet.

Finally, two weeks ago there were articles in JPost and YNet both acknowledging that the Israeli government has drawn up plans for developing all ofthe land between the wall and the Green Line in service of existing, expanding and new settlements.

In other words, all available evidence points to the wall built by Israel beyond the Green Line is just another attempt to creat a 'fact on the ground' that will prevent any viable two-state solution. It is nothing more than a land grab, dressed up as a security measure.

[hobbychubby]

07:30 AM on 05/06/2012

Land grabbing? you're an idiot

[Enso]

01:55 AM on 05/02/2012

Preventing some fanatic weaned on virulent Judephobia from taking random potshots at Israel towns sounds like a great policy.

[NorthernBorder]

05:20 AM on 05/02/2012

Keep who in????? Do you mean the Israel Arabs. Your post is nonsensable - sorry I would love to answer - but honestly makes no sense! If our Arabs want to leave to Leb I dont think anyone would object - I would maybe be dissapponted but certainly not object.

[WJeanMcBean]

08:08 AM on 05/02/2012

Why do you feel that Jewish people need to be kept in? Why do you feel that countries have been justified in evicting their Jewish populations at various times?

[Weeklong Zero]

11:42 PM on 05/01/2012

When the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, the East German government as well as the Soviet Union defended its construction, saying things like "It is meant for our national defense". When in reality it was built to prevent East Germans from escaping towards freedom in the West, it was built to suppress people not to protect them. And today the Israeli government states that the goal of the Israeli - West Bank Wall (AKA "Apartheid Wall") is too protect Israelis not to suppress the Palestinians.
History has proven the East German dictatorship wrong, it shall prove the same to Israel.

[RealityHacker]

12:47 AM on 05/02/2012

You got everything wrong! The wall is not to stop people from leaving Israel but to prevent violent terrorists from harming Israeli civilians. And there is no 'apartheid' in Israel but everywhere else in the Middle East. And the 'wall' is 97% a fence. .

Next!

[NorthernBorder]

03:30 AM on 05/02/2012

And how are we to prevent terrorists coming into Israel. Anti aircraft guns? Anti - tank missiles?.
Or just have an esspresso with them before they blow themselves up. Hardly anything is done here blatantly ani-palestinian. 99% of stuff is security for my kids.
Anyone who is against the wall is invited to spend a day or two in Hadera or Natanya or in a disco in T Aviv w/o it!. Hey! Dont you indoctronees want a Palestine? BTW they worked for many years in Israel at Union pay and were all more or less smiling until they started killing our children - then we said NO MORE. Were we wrong? . I honestly dont know whether sacrificing a few families may have brought peace closer ( as long as its not mine).
Nu! What else dont you like Mr Monolythic left wing/fascist. Having sex with 4 boys on our main beach (true!). Still searching for the crime.
As a very ex S african and a fighter against Apartheid w/ jailed family ,I can confidently tell you we are as far from apartheid as pluto to earth. But continue believing if you want to be "in the crowd". Like Germans in 19 30's

[moshedaveed]

04:15 AM on 05/02/2012

RealityHacker This is what I said yesterday, totally agree with you. The Head line give the impression that a concrete wall is being built

[Enso]

01:57 AM on 05/02/2012

History has proven the East German dictatorship wrong
Agreed.
Israel is like West Germany, a prosperous and democratic state;
and Lebanon is like E. Germany, failed entity cobbled together and held by a shoestring.

[NorthernBorder]

03:33 AM on 05/02/2012

So \, what are saying. Take a risk without the wall? I have often wondered what they want of us here. The only real wealth are our hi-tech kids. Are they intending to capture them and force them to invent!!

[Charles the Great]

10:47 AM on 05/02/2012

East Germany did that to keep their people in. Israel is doing this on the Blue line to prevent Hezbollah from Kidnapping it people like in 2006 and caused a war as a result/

[enderM]

10:34 PM on 05/01/2012

oh pleeeeze. read the damnn article.

[NoOne18]

08:16 PM on 05/01/2012

http://www.takeapen.org/english/Fences.htm

http://blog.z-word.com/2009/07/irans-apartheid-wall/

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/07/02/155830.html

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110414/163534194.html

[Geo80]

07:32 PM on 05/01/2012

Israel's neighbors are:
Egypt, now partially run by Muslim Brotherhood
Gaza, run by Hamas
Lebanon, partially run by Hezbollah
Syria, run by genocidal Assad
Etc.

If you were Israel, you'd build fences/walls to protect yourself, too!

Everyone SANE would agree with this.

[Aussieposter]

11:14 PM on 05/01/2012

Why would you demand to move into such a neighbourhood? It was the Zionist choice. They were not invited by the Arabs.

[rilyn]

03:50 AM on 05/02/2012

Because a home in a bad neighbourhood is better than no home at all...

[moshedaveed]

04:20 AM on 05/02/2012

Aussieposter:- That land has belonged to Israel for a long long long time 3000BC +

[Sonic hedgehog]

12:38 AM on 05/02/2012

Etc. doesn't fit there since there is only one other neighbor left and Israel is best buddies with that absolute monarchy. You guessed it right, Jordan. And countries build walls or fences at their borders even if their neighbors are at peace with them, opinions and personalities of the rulers are irrelevant to it.

[Michael II]

06:44 PM on 05/01/2012

Here's a report from Lebanon's Daily Star which says... pretty much the same thing: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/May-01/172001-israel-begins-construction-of-separation-wall.ashx#axzz1tf01VHwH

[WJeanMcBean]

07:12 PM on 05/01/2012

Interesting. Also good to see that the UN calls this a positive development.

[Michael II]

04:15 AM on 05/02/2012

I wouldn't say the wall itself is a positive development; it's the cooling-off of tempers that is encouraging. There are possible sources of friction, but they have not been allowed to escalated.

[pastgone]

06:07 PM on 05/01/2012

Used to be once upon a time "walls" were built by barbaric, tyrannical regimes.

The more things change, they more . . . . .

[Sam Adamson]

06:46 PM on 05/01/2012

Revisit the history books. Most walls in history were built to keep the barbarians out, like what Israel does.

[Posthuman]

10:16 AM on 05/03/2012

I really hope you understand that using the image you are using as your icon, while supporting a regime very similar to the one that forced the wearing of it, is disgraceful to the memory of eleven million.

[NorthernBorder]

07:50 AM on 05/07/2012

Dear Sam
Its so difficult to accept that so little has changed. At least we have a fort now.

[eric steven]

01:02 AM on 05/03/2012

in reference to what culture, from where does the term "barbarian" come from?

hmmm?

[robertstone1robert]

06:03 PM on 05/01/2012

The World Court hasn't done much and is looking for a starring role in the Nuremberg Trials. That's why they they say the barrier is illegal. Israel, fortunately, is not going to let that happen.

[Sam Adamson]

06:47 PM on 05/01/2012

Yet another irrelevant comment. Keep up. This is not the same border, not the same wall, and the UN actually decided this border is completely agreed upon.

[roch1234caputo]

09:26 PM on 05/01/2012

As if we care, wall, fence what ever, have fun with it. Is you could stay behind it, that would ever be better. Good luck, you guys don't seem to have much, The tall the thicker all that sort of stuf, the better. Closing the air port would insure that no scary people got in that way, are their any other things you could do to keep the boogy man out? Do it. We're all for it. Well thats not correct, alot of us are for it, is closer to the fact. I don't know about all the rest, but I woun't harm you phyical in anyway, in any way. You go your way , I'll go mine. I've gotten of all this and want it to stop.

[robertstone1robert]

09:28 PM on 05/01/2012

I am not going to respond to your insults because I have a feeling you didn't read my comment fully or didn't understand it.

[njoytday]

09:22 AM on 05/02/2012

World court is corrupt it would seem, if they say a barrier preventing murders is illegal. Have their kids get shot at and they would sing a different tune.

[robertstone1robert]

11:56 AM on 05/02/2012

I would absolutely agree are corrupt. They also have warped minds

I applaud you. Truer words were never spoken. They sit in their and issue proclamations. They've never lived under the gun and having to protect yourself from suicidal maniacs.

[marianela afridi]

05:41 PM on 05/01/2012

Yes, let them continue building walls until they isolate themselves from the rest of the world, into their own parallel universe, unevolving, and alone.

[NoOne18]

08:18 PM on 05/01/2012

Like Iran? Oh, no, wait, NOT like Iran, because I don't hear you mentioning it. Or Saudi Arabia. Or Holland, or Ireland or any of the other places that have walls for just the same reason Israel needs to build one. & just why is it that I don't hear anything from you on those walls....?

[njoytday]

09:24 AM on 05/02/2012

Marianela forgets they have airplanes to fly over walls and satellite so will never be isolated. Graves are kinda cold and lonely though.

[marianela afridi]

04:14 PM on 05/02/2012

What wall is erected in Iran or Saudi Arabia? Who is Holland being threatened by? Is Holland under occupation? A shallow and ludricrous assessment.

[enderM]

09:00 AM on 05/02/2012

lol. just another h@tr who'd rather see israelis hit by random flying bulllitss.
did ya sign up just to express that.

[Anybodyseenthepopos]

03:10 PM on 05/01/2012

1,225 Comments with 11 (prob 12 when I hit post) Pending?

ON THIS?

More theater of the Absurd.

There is literally NOTHING to argue about.