Israel’s High-Tech Wall Protecting It from Terror Tunnels https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/israel-zionism/2021/04/israels-high-tech-wall-protecting-it-from-terror-tunnels/

April 15, 2021 | Jacob Nagel and Jonathan Schanzer
About the author:

In its 2014 war against Israel, Hamas attempted to attack Israeli civilians through tunnels it had carefully dug in advance. But now the IDF has put into a place a sophisticated barrier to prevent such subterranean assaults. Jacob Nagel and Jonathan Schanzer describe this innovative piece of military technology:

The new border fence has three levels: a deep underground layer, an upper-fence physical layer, and an upper high-tech layer that includes detection devices like robots, drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and more. They are all equipped with visual, electronic, and intelligence equipment and powered by artificial intelligence. And they all operate through command-and-control bases along the barrier.

The underground layer includes a high-tech cement wall extending “tens of meters” beneath the ground (the exact depth is not public knowledge). It is equipped with a multidimensional sensor net to detect any activity near, at, or under the barrier. The barrier even stretches into the Mediterranean Sea to stymie Hamas naval commandos from penetrating Israel, as occurred at Zikim Beach during the 2014 conflict.

These fences have prevented unlawful entry and violence, but they are not without controversy. . . . Some in the IDF believe the construction of expensive and high-tech fences sends a message of weakness or a defensive posture. They argue that effective fences might prevent political leaders from taking decisive action during conflict, particularly if they feel the barrier might shield the country from a wider conflagration. [But others] argue that advanced fences give political leaders flexibility to decide exactly when and how to launch a military response to provocations.

Read more on RealClear Defense: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/10/a_closer_look_at_israels_new_high-tech_barrier_772195.html