Number of illegal African immigrants plummets in Israel

Israel's Population and Immigration Authority said Tuesday that the number of illegal African immigrants entering Israel via Egypt is at its lowest since 2009. Only 199 illegal migrants crossed into Israel in August, while in the same month last year, over 2,000 people illegally entered Israel, Ynet news site reported. The immigration authority believes the drastic decline in the number of infiltrators is due to the construction of a fence between Egypt and Israel that began in 2010. The gigantic fence, over 240 km long, cost the state 1.5 billion shekels (370 million U.S. dollars) and is equipped with movement radars to detect infiltration more effectively. According to the Israeli government's plan, it will be finished by the end of this year. Israeli authorities estimate that over 65,000 illegal African migrants are currently living in the Jewish country.