Israel Begins Building New 500km Fence along Border with Jordan

Israel has begun building a new 500km security fence along its eastern border with Jordan, launching construction on the first two sections under a project estimated to cost 5.5 billion shekels.

Israel’s defense ministry said that construction has started on the first two sections of a new security barrier along the Israel–Jordan border. The initial phase covers around 80km and is focused on the valley regions.

The project is being carried out under the direction of Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Ministry of Defense’s Engineering and Construction Division, the Borders and Seams Directorate, and the Israel Defense Forces Central Command. Planning work is continuing for the remaining sections as authorities finalize the broader border defense layout.

The full project will span about 500km, stretching from the southern Golan Heights to the Samar Sands north of Eilat. It will consist of a multi-layered system that combines a physical fence with surveillance and detection technology.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “The new barrier will strengthen settlement along the border, significantly reduce arms smuggling into the hands of terrorists in Judea and Samaria, and will deal a severe blow to the efforts of Iran and its proxies to establish an eastern front against the State of Israel.”

He added that new Nahal nuclear sites would be established along the fence route to consolidate Israeli control of the area and support settlement as part of national security planning.

Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, said, “The eastern region is the longest border of the State of Israel. Defending it is a complex task, which begins with a physical barrier and the redeployment of IDF forces, but does not end there.”

Baram stated that the broader strategy includes settlement, employment, transport, agriculture, water, and health infrastructure. He added that an initial 50 million shekels has been approved under the 2026 budget to begin the wider program, with operations expected to expand as construction progresses.

Head of the Borders and Seam Directorate, Maj. Gen. Eran Ofir, revealed the barrier “will be a smart border, which will include both a physical fence and collection means, radars, cameras and advanced IT means. Additional construction zones would be activated in the coming months.