Israel began building a wall that will run several kilometers along part of its border with Lebanon, a military spokeswoman told Agence France Presse on Monday.

"This construction, which began on Monday, is being carried out in coordination with UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and the Lebanese army. The wall is intended to avoid frictions on the border," she said.

Israeli public radio said the wall, which is expected to be several meters high, will protect the city of Metulla from sniper fire coming from the Lebanese border town of Kfar Kila.

The project, which was first announced in January, is expected to last several weeks and is being coordinated with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, and the Lebanese army, according to reports.

Israel and Lebanon are technically at war but military officers from the two sides meet regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL to coordinate security along their joint border. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 04/30/12)