Israel to erect sea barrier.

Israeli military officials confirmed last month that they will construct an undersea barrier extending almost one kilometre offshore from the Gaza Strip, after Israel withdraws troops and settlers from the area this summer.

The barrier is designed to keep armed infiltrators from swimming

The Israeli military say the barrier will be a 150m stretch of concrete pilings beginning at the beach, and a further 800m of floating fence--probably similar to shark nets used off some bathing beaches--to deter infiltrators equipped with scuba gear. Installation is expected to begin soon but will not be complete in time for the expected withdrawal of forces in August.

The barrier is unlikely to present a hazard to navigation as long as Gaza's only port remains closed and Gazan fishing boats are prohibited from entering Israeli waters. The closest port facility is the oil terminal at the Mediterranean end of the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, five miles north of the proposed barrier. Israeli officials have hinted that, if progress is made toward a final settlement of their dispute with the Palestinians, they will be offering the use of Ashdod as the main port serving the 1.3M Palestinians in Gaza.