The Ministry of Defense has begun construction of a wall along the line separating Israel from the West Bank near the Palestinian town of Jenin, and security officials fear an escalation of Palestinian violence as work on the barrier progresses. The barrier along what is commonly called the "seam line" aims to prevent Palestinians from illegally entering Israel and ward off terrorist attacks against Israelis such as those in March and April of this year.

The wall is intended to plug the numerous breaches along the existing fence that have allowed Palestinians to cross into Israel for years unhindered. The seam line, which more or less follows the 1967 Green Line demarcation, stretches about 700 kilometers (434 miles).

Israel started constructing this barrier 20 years ago. During the second intifada (2000-2005), when there were numerous attacks in the heart of Israel, the government decided to build a fence to prevent assailants from crossing into the country. Though many years have passed since the decision, the cement barrier covers only 134 kilometers (83 miles). The rest is blocked off by a wire fence that is rather easy to breach. Along two major sections — near the Gush Etzion settlements south of Jerusalem and from the Hebron Hills area to the Dead Sea — there is no barrier at all.

Israel also failed to plug the many breaches along the fence, cut in dozens of spots by Palestinian laborers seeking entry to Israel for work to support their families in the West Bank.