PM takes step in the aftermath of a string of three terror attacks Tuesday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to complete the security barrier in the area of Jerusalem in the aftermath of the three terror attacks Tuesday, in which an American graduate student was killed and 15 people were injured.
The attacks occurred around the time that US Vice President Joe Biden landed in Israel for a two-day visit.
Late Tuesday night, Netanyahu held security consultations with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Yoav Mordechai, and representatives from the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security)..
During the meeting, Netanyahu took a number of security decisions in addition to the already existing ones such as the closure of villages where Palestinian terrorist live or from where they left to execute their attacks.
Media outlets that promote incitement will be closed. Legislation to punish those who help Palestinians illegally enter or live in areas of Israel within the Green Line will be fast tracked.
Work and trade permits for Palestinians will also be denied.
With respect to the security barrier, Netanyahu did not clarify what he meant with regard to the completion of the barrier in the area of Jerusalem. Although he did also speak of building a fence around the Tarkymiya checkpoint in the area of Hebron.
Netanyahu has already pledged to complete the security barrier in response to calls to do so from opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union).
At the time, officials said that the premier planned to focus on the Jerusalem area.
To date only 60 percent of the barrier’s 790 km. route has been completed.
The project was begun in 2002. According to the latest data provided to The Jerusalem Post, the project itself has been mostly frozen since 2007.
In a written response, the Defense Ministry told the Post last week, “Thus far, 470 km. of the security barrier have been completed.” It added, “an additional 71 km. still remain.” That would account for a built up route of 541 kilometers.
In October 2014, the Defense Ministry told the Post that 460 km. of the barrier had been completed out of a 525 km. route that did not include the blocs of Ariel, Ma’aleh Adumim and Gush Etzion.
At that time it explained that the route of the barrier around Jerusalem itself was 145 kilometers, of which 21 kilometers had not been completed. It estimated that they would be finished by the end of the year.
But since then only 10 kilometers of the overall barrier route has been finished. The Defense Ministry to date has refused to answer any other specific questions about the route of the barrier in the area of Jerusalem.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post