Israel's government has approved plans for the construction of a barrier along its border with Egypt in a bid to keep out illegal migrants and militants¹.

以色列政府已经批准在埃及边界建设屏障以阻止非法移民和武装分子进入的计划。

Egyptian security sources said they would not object to the barrier

It will be built along two parts of the border - near the Red Sea city of Eilat and on the edge of the Gaza Strip加沙地带.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was taken to secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character, but that refugees would still be allowed to seek entry.

In recent years, thousands of migrants have crossed into Israel via Egypt.

At least 17 migrants, mostly African, have been killed since May by Egyptian police, who say they are trying to stop people trafficking.

Eritrea厄立特里亚 is the most common country of origin for people trying to cross illegally from Egypt to Israel, followed by Ethiopia and Sudan.

'Illegal aliens'

On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said he had approved the construction of sections of barrier that would block the main infiltration渗透 routes along the 266km (166-mile) frontier, and the installation of advanced surveillance监督，监视 equipment.

The project is set to cost $270m and take two years to complete.

"I took the decision to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators渗入者 and terrorists. This is a strategic decision to secure Israel's Jewish and democratic character," the prime ministers said in a statement.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel would "remain open to refugees" from conflict zones, but added: "We cannot let tens of thousands of illegal workers infiltrate³ into Israel through the southern border and inundate⁴泛滥，淹没 our country with illegal aliens."

Egyptian security sources said Israel had not informed them of its plans, but that they would not object so long as只要 the barrier was built on Israeli soil.

Israel has also been building a controversial barrier in and around the occupied West Bank in recent years. It says it is needed to defend Israeli citizens from attacks by militants. Palestinians, however, consider it a land grab.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory⁵ ruling that the barrier was illegal and should be removed.

Egypt is meanwhile building an underground barrier along its border with Gaza to stem阻止 the smuggling⁶ of weapons through tunnels.