Anti-tank mines cleared in controlled explosions ahead of planned renovation of border fence, installation of multi-sensory surveillance system

Some 700 anti-tank landmines were detonated along the Israel-Jordan border on Wednesday, as part of an agreement between the two states.

The series of controlled explosions was held near the community of Hemdat in the Jordan Valley, bringing the number of cleared landmines to some 60,000. An additional 14,000 landmines have yet to be removed from the area.

Troops from the IDF´s combat engineering school were also working on clearing hundreds of thousands of anti-personnel mines, which are scattered underneath the surface.

The operation, which began some seven years ago, and is scheduled to be completed in the next 18 months, will see the cleared area converted into agricultural lands.

As per the agreement, Egyptian forces were simultaneously clearing landmines from the eastern side of the border.

The border with Jordan will soon undergo a facelift, which will include renovation of the border fence, complete with a new signaling system that will alert of any suspicious activity near the fence. The renovation is estimated to cost around NIS10 million (about $2.6 million).

The military is now awaiting final budget approval in order to issue a tender for the project.

In addition to the renovation, the IDF has formed a plan to integrate a Multi-Sensory System that would enable advanced surveillance capabilities into Jordanian territory, following concerns that the closing of the Egyptian border will see some of the smuggling routes and terrorist activities re-routed to Hashamite Kingdom. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 05/18/12)