Cabinet Greenlights 3-Year Plan Combining Sensors, Troops, and Infrastructure to Thwart Iranian Threats
Israel is gearing up to break ground in June on a massive, high-tech security barrier stretching the entire length of its border with Jordan. The plan, approved by the security cabinet over the weekend, is pegged at over $1.4 billion and expected to take three years to complete.
Officials say the move is meant to plug a serious strategic gap in Israel’s eastern flank, amid growing fears that Iran could use Jordan as a launchpad for weapons smuggling and infiltration efforts.
A Fence, But Not Just a Fence
This isn’t just about a wall. The proposed 425-kilometer barrier from Hamat Gader in the north to the Samar Sands near Eilat is going to be part wall, part surveillance grid, part mobile response system.
What’s being built is a layered system. We’re talking sensors, cameras, AI-powered monitoring tech, and mobile military units — all tied together by a centralized command network. Think less “Great Wall” and more “digital perimeter.”
The cost? A whopping 5.2 billion shekels, or around $1.4 billion. That price tag covers everything from civil engineering to the cutting-edge defense tech that’ll be stitched into the fence.
Jordan Valley: The Next Front Line
The plan goes beyond just putting up a fence. It also calls for boosting Israel’s physical presence in the Jordan Valley — a politically sensitive slice of the West Bank.
Officials confirmed the setup of new “national mission centers” in the region. These include pre-military academies and civil service centers, part of a broader push to populate and secure the area.
One sentence stands out:
“We will not allow Iran to create another terror front through Jordan,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday.
That pretty much sums up the urgency behind the move.
What’s Really Driving This?
This whole project didn’t come out of nowhere. The southern part of the Israel-Egypt border has had a fortified fence since 2013, built mainly to stop African migrant crossings. But that structure also proved effective at disrupting arms and drug smuggling.
By contrast, the eastern frontier with Jordan has remained wide open in large parts. That’s despite rising concerns about Iran’s activities in Syria and growing ties between Tehran and extremist proxies in the region.
Here’s why the timing matters:
-
Israeli intelligence believes Iranian operatives are actively probing the Jordanian corridor.
-
The conflict in Gaza has forced a rethink of strategic depth, especially in border regions.
-
There’s growing political appetite within Israel’s right-wing bloc to lock down the Jordan Valley for good.
The barrier isn’t just about security. It’s also about permanence — a message that Israel plans to hold its ground, literally and politically.
Critics Sound Off: Is This the Right Move?
Not everyone’s thrilled about the plan. Opposition lawmakers are raising concerns over the cost and optics. Some warn that it could strain already delicate relations with Jordan, a key regional partner and one of only two Arab states with a peace deal with Israel.
Human rights advocates are also uneasy, fearing the increased military presence in the Jordan Valley could further restrict Palestinian mobility and deepen tensions.
But government officials are brushing off the criticism, arguing that national security trumps all — especially with threats mounting on multiple fronts.
Comparing Border Projects: Then vs. Now
Here’s a quick look at how Israel’s previous barrier projects stack up against this new one:
| Border | Project Start | Length (km) | Main Purpose | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaza | 1994 (upgraded 2019) | ~65 km | Terror tunnels, Hamas infiltration | $1.1 billion |
| Egypt | 2010 | ~245 km | Illegal migration, smuggling | ~$450 million |
| Jordan (Planned) | 2025 | 425 km | Iranian arms smuggling, strategic defense | $1.4 billion |
That makes the Jordan barrier Israel’s most expensive border project to date — and its most technologically ambitious.
The Bigger Picture: Shaping Future Strategy
This project isn’t just about now — it’s about what comes next. By controlling the eastern border more tightly, Israel effectively closes one of its last open flanks.
At the same time, by investing in national mission centers, it’s reinforcing the narrative that the Jordan Valley is not a buffer zone — it’s part of the state’s long-term vision.
In many ways, the fence is as much about the map as it is about missiles. And by embedding civilians and military infrastructure deep into the valley, Israel is drawing a clear line in both concrete and political will.
