Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that he has instructed the security establishment to establish within six months a fence that will separate between Judea/Samaria and the rest of Israel. The fence is to be 362 kilometers long, and will include electronic components. In some areas it will be particularly tall, so as to prevent steep-trajectory shooting attacks over it. Cost: One billion shekels (over $200 million).
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Aharon Lev-Ran, a former senior IDF Intelligence officer and currently a strategic studies researcher, is one of those who objects strongly to such a separation today. \"Can anyone really think that going on the defensive will be effective?\" he asked in a talk with Arutz-7 today. \"By putting up a wall, you\'re letting the other side have full rein to do what he wants… The fence around the Gaza Strip has been infiltrated many times, including most recently the Rishon LeTzion attack [15 killed], and many mortar shells have been shot over it... What, a defensive fence will save us? If we need a fence here and there for local purposes, OK [- but not more than that].\"
Gen. Lev-Ran also commented on the apparent resumption of Palestinian terrorist attacks: \"I have been saying for the past 15 months that it is very clear that Operation Defensive Shield took the right direction, but it is far from a complete job. There should have been a total vanquishing of the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist organizations, period… It\'s still not too late. If we have to conquer those areas, then that would be better than to remain at the mercies of these terrorists. For instance, [our entries into the PA-controlled city of] Tul Karem: it\'s inconceivable that we should be going in and out of there like a yo-yo. There is no choice; we must take full control of these places from where terrorists keep on coming out… It’s inevitable that this will happen.\"
Brig.-Gen. (res.) Aharon Lev-Ran, a former senior IDF Intelligence officer and currently a strategic studies researcher, is one of those who objects strongly to such a separation today. \"Can anyone really think that going on the defensive will be effective?\" he asked in a talk with Arutz-7 today. \"By putting up a wall, you\'re letting the other side have full rein to do what he wants… The fence around the Gaza Strip has been infiltrated many times, including most recently the Rishon LeTzion attack [15 killed], and many mortar shells have been shot over it... What, a defensive fence will save us? If we need a fence here and there for local purposes, OK [- but not more than that].\"
Gen. Lev-Ran also commented on the apparent resumption of Palestinian terrorist attacks: \"I have been saying for the past 15 months that it is very clear that Operation Defensive Shield took the right direction, but it is far from a complete job. There should have been a total vanquishing of the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist organizations, period… It\'s still not too late. If we have to conquer those areas, then that would be better than to remain at the mercies of these terrorists. For instance, [our entries into the PA-controlled city of] Tul Karem: it\'s inconceivable that we should be going in and out of there like a yo-yo. There is no choice; we must take full control of these places from where terrorists keep on coming out… It’s inevitable that this will happen.\"