A Wall, Not a Fence

Time for Israel to replace its Gaza border fence with a wall.

There’s a reason castles have walls, not fences. They keep out enemies. Israel needs to do the same.

So much for Israel’s much-vaunted high-tech security fence, with its sensors, cameras, and radars. While it may thwart sporadic attacks by individuals and small groups, it’s not so effective against large-scale coordinated terrorist assaults such as what Hamas carried out on October 7. Enemy bulldozers can too easily breach it.

Screen grab from WION TV via YouTube.

If only it truly were an “Iron Wall,” as it is called. Hamas reportedly used commercial drones to bomb watch towers and communications and weapons systems along the fence. With explosives and bulldozers it breached it in 29 locations. Terrorists then entered by automobile and motorcycle — along with a handful of them flying over via motorized hang gliders.

Israel completed the 40-mile-long “smart fence” in 2021. It does involve a concrete wall — but that portion is underground, to prevent tunneling. The Israelis likely opted against an above-ground wall for cost reasons. But it’s now clear they’ll have to pony up and build. It should be strong enough to withstand missile strikes to the extent possible. Better yet, have two parallel walls.