Navy builds anti-terror barrier off Gaza coast

[serdar]

In a move designed to better isolate Israel from potential terrorist infiltration from the Gaza Strip, the navy has started building an underwater barrier leading out to sea from the north Gaza shore.

The barrier, which essentially extends the northern security road separating Gaza from Israel into the Mediterranean, is primarily aimed at thwarting Palestinian terrorists swimming up to the Israeli coast. It consists in its first 150 meters of cement pilings burrowed into the sandy bottom. Beyond that, the barrier will extend for a further 800 meters, in the form of a 1.8-meter-deep fence floating beneath the surface.

It is understood that one of the navy's perceived imperatives for the new barrier is the loss of surveillance systems at the Tel Ridan base on the beach south of Gaza City when the IDF pulls out of Gaza this summer. Still, the barrier is not expected to be completed before August 15, when disengagement is set to begin.

It is not yet clear whether the navy intends to demarcate the territorial waters with buoys, as it did with Lebanon. Off the coast of Rosh Hanikra, there are seven linked buoys reaching out 4,200 meters from the coast.

In similar moves to better seal off Gaza, the Navy is also refurbishing its observation and radar station at the Erez border crossing, and is adding an antenna tower there similar to the 85-meter structure at its base in Rosh Hanikra.

Palestinian terrorists have made attempts to swim to the Israeli coast in the past, and have been foiled mainly because they were spotted by radar and surveillance outposts onshore in the Gaza area. The new barrier is intended to foil potential efforts in which swimmers go beyond such surveillance capacities.

The barrier would also back up naval patrols intercepting small vessels carrying terrorists.

Last November, a heavily armed Palestinian terrorist dressed in a wetsuit tried to swim in from the sea to attack a Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. Navy surveillance ground forces spotted him and shot him dead 400 meters from the beach. He had on him a bomb, an AK-47, four grenades, five ammunition clips, a knife and a rubber dinghy. In essence, it is understood, the sea barrier represents an extension of the Gaza security fence that has proven highly effective in preventing suicide bombers infiltrating into Israel.

[KettleWhistle]

Finally, some common-sense action from Israel!

Israel to Build Sea Barrier Off Gaza Coast


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050617/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_13;_ylt=AsISB_FaWDusKEwMey2ske oUvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

JERUSALEM - The Israeli navy plans to build a sea barrier off the coast of northern Gaza to keep out potential attackers once Israel pulls out of the coastal strip this summer, military officials said.
The navy concluded the barrier, stretching 950 yards into the sea, is necessary because of the expected loss of surveillance systems in the planned pullout, military officials told an Israeli reporter in Gaza, requesting that their names not be used because the project is still being discussed.

Designed to keep potential attackers from swimming to the Israeli coast, the barrier's first hundred yards will consist of cement pilings buried into the sandy bottom, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reported Friday. The paper said the structure will extend another 800 yards in the form of 1.8-yard-deep fence floating beneath the surface.

A Palestinian official reacted angrily to the report.

"I hope the Israeli mentality of barriers will end," said negotiator Saeb Erekat. "Now they have land barriers and tomorrow sea barriers and the day after sky barriers and what else? Will they put a barrier around each Palestinian individual or house?"

Gaza, home to 1.3 million Palestinians, is surrounded by an Israeli fence built to keep back attackers and which prevents Gazans from being able to come and go. Israel is also building a barrier between itself and the West Bank.

"This is the wrong policy. This is political blindness," said Erekat. "The answer to all these woes of security and so on in is a meaningful peace process, is building the bridges with the Palestinians, is ending the occupation."
[boo-hoo, biyatches!]


The military officials said construction of the new sea barrier will begin soon and that it will be a major project costing millions of dollars, though they did not say how much. The barrier is not expected to be complete in time for Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza, set to begin in mid-August.


The rest at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050617/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_13;_ylt=AsISB_FaWDusKEwMey2ske oUvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[minusthejihad]

Those evil Zionist Neocon Running/Swimming Dog(fish)s!!! How dare they impede the migration of Mediterranean Tachinus vipera and Uranoscopus scaber fish?!??! And what about the long term side effects of ruining the Palestinian Olypic Water Skiing Team's dream of an Olympic 98th Place Finish???? All this to protect swiiming Jews from being Depth Mined!!!

[Gilgamesh]

Those evil Zionist Neocon Running/Swimming Dog(fish)s!!! How dare they impede the migration of Mediterranean Tachinus vipera and Uranoscopus scaber fish?!??! And what about the long term side effects of ruining the Palestinian Olypic Water Skiing Team's dream of an Olympic 98th Place Finish???? All this to protect swiiming Jews from being Depth Mined!!!No, actually, from sea born invasion of Arab terrorists. We had a few in the past, most failed.

Since my early days as child in chess class, my father taught me that "offense is the best defense", hence the coach named me the "bomber" for my aggresive moves.

The fense, any fense, is not a substitute for warfare and will not deter the enemy from striking. All defenses are made to earn time at crusial moments, nothing more.

[haakon]

Why would anyone want to build another wall around themselves?
I agree with Gilgamesh in the respect that such a wall is little more than a diversion, but I don't think open warfare is the right answer either.
It seems to me that such a fence, like any other, would provide little besides a false sense of security.

[frizzer1]

Why would anyone want to build another wall around themselves?
I agree with Gilgamesh in the respect that such a wall is little more than a diversion, but I don't think open warfare is the right answer either.
It seems to me that such a fence, like any other, would provide little besides a false sense of security.

That fence you don't seem to think much of saves israeli lives,lots of them.
The sea wall will probably save more.

[Gilgamesh]

Why would anyone want to build another wall around themselves?
I agree with Gilgamesh in the respect that such a wall is little more than a diversion, but I don't think open warfare is the right answer either.
It seems to me that such a fence, like any other, would provide little besides a false sense of security.

Welcome aboard Haakon.
The fenses and the massive defense constraction, have limited benefits, which usually do not cover the investment. It is the result of bad leadership, of high commanders and various officials covering their tails while avoiding tackeling the problems at hand.

Fighting terrorism, became contraversial in some circles in Israel. Terror victims do not file suits against the goverment, while NGO's and foreign goverments do lobby for the terrorists. Meth is simple on the high windows. It is called curroptions. Commanders do not want to risk their careers if colleteral demage happense while chasing a terrorist.

Mossad style surgical opperations are not always practicle or cost effective in fighting terrorism. Sometimes you have a moment notice to prevent an attack.

The enemy resorts heavly on human shields in his attacks. The result is passive resistance to terrorism. More walls, more patrols more restriction on rules of engagement.

We can't win with our current moral and political leadership. No better leader is currently in sight.

[Gilgamesh]

That fence you don't seem to think much of saves israeli lives,lots of them.
The sea wall will probably save more.

As I said, it's only a limited in its effectiveness. It will not save lives, only focus the enemy attention away from sea born terror assultes, toward more practicle morter attacks and bombs.

Some time later, the enemy will find a way to pass the net, or blow it away.

[minusthejihad]

No, actually, from sea born invasion of Arab terrorists. We had a few in the past, most failed.

Since my early days as child in chess class, my father taught me that "offense is the best defense", hence the coach named me the "bomber" for my aggresive moves.

The fense, any fense, is not a substitute for warfare and will not deter the enemy from striking. All defenses are made to earn time at crusial moments, nothing more.

Shalom Gil, I'm sure you know I was being sarcastic by now?

Yes, my father tried to teach me to play chess as well, I wish I would have been more interested to become an expert. But one thing I will always remember is that you have have to think at least 20 moves ahead of your opponent.

[KettleWhistle]

Its main advantage is the symbolic one. It cuts the Palestian colony off, and that's what really matters. There is a need to clear up all the muddied territorial waters, and that's a start. It's a simple message really: this isn't your country or your land. Want to swim North? Get a visa!

As for everything else being said, these are the problems associated with the ongoing degradation of the general morale and patriotic spirit, and the lousy system of government that desperately needs a reform. And it would be nice if the families of the victims start sueing the Army and the Israeli government for failing to protect their relatives.

[NiekNL]

In a move designed to better isolate Israel from potential terrorist infiltration from the Gaza Strip, the navy has started building an underwater barrier leading out to sea from the north Gaza shore.

The barrier, which essentially extends the northern security road separating Gaza from Israel into the Mediterranean, is primarily aimed at thwarting Palestinian terrorists swimming up to the Israeli coast. It consists in its first 150 meters of cement pilings burrowed into the sandy bottom. Beyond that, the barrier will extend for a further 800 meters, in the form of a 1.8-meter-deep fence floating beneath the surface.

It is understood that one of the navy's perceived imperatives for the new barrier is the loss of surveillance systems at the Tel Ridan base on the beach south of Gaza City when the IDF pulls out of Gaza this summer. Still, the barrier is not expected to be completed before August 15, when disengagement is set to begin.

It is not yet clear whether the navy intends to demarcate the territorial waters with buoys, as it did with Lebanon. Off the coast of Rosh Hanikra, there are seven linked buoys reaching out 4,200 meters from the coast.

In similar moves to better seal off Gaza, the Navy is also refurbishing its observation and radar station at the Erez border crossing, and is adding an antenna tower there similar to the 85-meter structure at its base in Rosh Hanikra.

Palestinian terrorists have made attempts to swim to the Israeli coast in the past, and have been foiled mainly because they were spotted by radar and surveillance outposts onshore in the Gaza area. The new barrier is intended to foil potential efforts in which swimmers go beyond such surveillance capacities.

The barrier would also back up naval patrols intercepting small vessels carrying terrorists.

Last November, a heavily armed Palestinian terrorist dressed in a wetsuit tried to swim in from the sea to attack a Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. Navy surveillance ground forces spotted him and shot him dead 400 meters from the beach. He had on him a bomb, an AK-47, four grenades, five ammunition clips, a knife and a rubber dinghy. In essence, it is understood, the sea barrier represents an extension of the Gaza security fence that has proven highly effective in preventing suicide bombers infiltrating into Israel.

Great idea! ;)

[Gilgamesh]

Shalom Gil, I'm sure you know I was being sarcastic by now?Shalom Minus! I love your sarcasm, and I like reading your posts very much. I was reffering to your last sentance, and I should have quoted only the sentance I was reffering to.

Yes, my father tried to teach me to play chess as well, I wish I would have been more interested to become an expert. But one thing I will always remember is that you have have to think at least 20 moves ahead of your opponent.True! The greater the player, the more moves he knows in advance. I never practiced enough to become a real chess player, I once wish to be. I do enjoy computer chess, though.

[serdar]

MAAAANN Israelis are like a god to me now!!!

everything against terrorism ;) 10 points i gave to Israel now. Using money to block terrorism, even under the water.

but once i heard, palestinians are making tunnel under the ground and destroyin also under the ground..

anyway, its cool idea under the water ;)

[Luke90]

It consists in its first 150 meters of cement pilings burrowed into the sandy bottom. Beyond that, the barrier will extend for a further 800 meters, in the form of a 1.8-meter-deep fence floating beneath the surface.
I don't understand how it'll be able to stop swimmers.
Surely any reasonably competent swimmer can swim 300m and dive under a 1.8m barrier?

[Gilgamesh]

I don't understand how it'll be able to stop swimmers.
Surely any reasonably competent swimmer can swim 300m and dive under a 1.8m barrier?
The fence probabley covers sensory blind spot. I suppose that under 1.8 meters, the swimmer and get detected by sensors. floating above the fence, would be detected by other sensors.

[serdar]

anyway, its a giant step by government, they should be knowing everything, every riskies etc..

[atricnorth]

some of the terrorist groups have used frogmen before, even more so it is needed to block any terrorist from heading to israelian beaches.

less than a month or so, the call and application should ever so urgent after all.

i agree with gilgamesh, even though the terrorist have fail to gain ground on beachheads, all the more, look out for all views including the sixth.

[serdar]

barriers are impressing me, maybe Turkey should to build same kind barrier to border of the northern Iraq... :D