Netanyahu envisions an Israel surrounded by fences

During his tour of the Arava, Netanyahu warns of the potential threat of cross-border tunnels from the West Bank. He says that unlike the borders with Egypt and Jordan, where there are no structures on either side of the fence, in the West Bank “you have built-up areas, buildings along the separation line.”

“If you’re thinking of erecting a fence there you have to take into account that they could tunnel beneath it,” he says. “The people who said that there is no significance to territory in the modern age should go to Gaza.”

Nevertheless he adds, “We’re formulating a plan to seal off the openings in the security fence in the West Bank.”

Netanyahu says this is part of a “multi-year plan to surround the entire State of Israel with security fences to protect ourselves in the current and projected Middle East.”

“At the end of the day, in the State of Israel as I see it, there will be a fence like this one” — he refers to the border fence with Jordan that has been under construction in recent months — “surrounding its entirety… We’ll surround the entire State of Israel with a fence, a barrier.”

Netanyahu adds, “In our neighborhood, we need to protect ourselves from the predatory animals.”

He says the project, which is also set to include a new fence along the border with the Gaza Strip, will cost “many billions” and take years to complete.