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Israel’s new high-tech security fence along its eastern border with Jordan could be completed as early as the beginning of 2028, according to information obtained by The Jerusalem Post. The project marks one of Israel’s most ambitious border fortification efforts in recent years.
The plan was formally revived in November 2024, when Defense Minister Israel Katz announced he had secured authority to construct the advanced barrier. The fence is designed to counter escalating weapons smuggling, particularly efforts allegedly linked to Iran.
At the time, Katz said construction would begin within months, but officials did not provide a clear completion timeline. As of early 2026, however, the building process is fully underway, defense sources have confirmed.
Despite early optimism, progress was slowed by extended delays. Construction did not begin in earnest until late 2025, nearly a year after Katz’s announcement, largely due to bureaucratic and logistical hurdles.
The Defense Ministry said the initial phase focuses on roughly 40 kilometers of fencing. This stretch runs from Hamat Gader near the southern Golan Heights to Yardena, and from the Jordan Valley checkpoint to Yafit.
This initial work is part of a far larger initiative to fortify Israel’s entire 425-kilometer border with Jordan. The project extends from the Samar Sands north of Eilat, through areas adjacent to the West Bank, and up to the southern Golan Heights.
The total estimated cost of the project stands at NIS 5.5 billion. This exceeds the NIS 3.5 billion spent on the Gaza border fence, which was completed in 2021 and heavily criticized after Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
Defense officials say the Jordan fence will integrate cutting-edge sensors, intelligence-gathering systems, and communication networks. While the fence itself is expected to be a major security boost, Israel does not plan to rely on technology alone.
Sources confirmed that the IDF has significantly expanded proactive intelligence operations along the border. These efforts aim to detect and disrupt smuggling networks before weapons reach the West Bank or other sensitive areas.
The project faced years of political resistance before gaining approval. Former defense officials accused the Finance Ministry, led by Bezalel Smotrich, and at times Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of blocking funding despite repeated warnings.
Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yehuda Fuchs, a former senior IDF commander, had strongly advocated for the fence. Before retiring in mid-2024, he sent a formal warning to then-chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi about the risks of inaction.
Katz’s arrival at the Defense Ministry appears to have shifted the political balance. Analysts suggest his political maneuvering skills, combined with Netanyahu’s desire for a quick policy win, helped break the deadlock.
While Smotrich’s office denies opposing the fence, past statements and delays remain contentious. His spokesman has argued that the IDF itself failed to prioritize the project amid simultaneous conflicts on Israel’s northern and southern fronts.
Israel has traditionally viewed its border with Jordan as one of its quietest, following the 1995 peace treaty and years of close intelligence cooperation. That perception has changed as officials warn of increasing Iranian influence.
Katz has described a “relentless and institutionalized” Iranian effort to establish an eastern front against Israel. He has vowed to prevent the West Bank from becoming a new Gaza-like security threat.
The project is being coordinated by the Defense Ministry’s engineering department under Maj.-Gen. Eran Ofir, who also oversaw construction of the Gaza fence. Despite past criticism, officials maintain confidence in his technical leadership.
Whether Israel will reinforce the border with additional troops remains unclear. For now, the fence represents a strategic shift toward strengthening Israel’s eastern defenses amid growing regional instability.
