[JPost] A Fence you say?Smotrich approves tens of millions of shekels for fence he had prevented under Gallant
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that he has won a years-long battle to get authority to build a new hi-tech border fence with Jordan to block smuggling, especially from Iran.
An announcement said that the fence, which will include a variety of cutting-edge sensors and cost tens of millions of shekels, would be constructed in "a number of months" but did not set a formal end date.
It was unclear at press time how Katz had overcome the opposition of Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who has prevented the idea from going forward in recent years.
Former IDF central commander Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yehuda Fuchs had pushed for the fence for a long time, even sending a formal letter of warning to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi about the dangers of failing to build a fence, before retiring.
However, simply the fact that Katz has entered into office and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have wanted him to get a quick win to move the narrative on from Katz’s recently fired and highly-respected predecessor, Yoav Gallant, could have been a factor.