Security barrier, aimed at protecting northern town, finished in just over one month

A seven-meter high wall separating Israel from Lebanon near the border town of Metulla has been completed, a little over one month after construction began, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported Saturday.

The wall, which runs 1,200 meters long, is meant to protect residents of the northern town from sniper fire or rock attacks from the Lebanese town of Kfar Kila, just a few meters across the border.

Xinhua quoted Lebanese officials as saying the wall had been completed sometime Saturday.

The wall is outfitted with sophisticated cameras and sensory equipment aimed at preventing infiltration and confrontation between Israel and Lebanon

Construction of the fence was briefly halted in its first days, after Lebanon complained to UNIFIL that Israel had strayed several centimeters into Lebanon.

UNIFIL is the United Nations peacekeeping force tasked since 2006 with patrolling the Lebanese side of the border.

Israel and Lebanon are officially still at war and have only a cease- fire line separating them, known as the UN Blue Line, which is demarcated by a fence on the Israeli side.

in 2010, Israelis trimming shrubs on the border fence were fired upon by Lebanese troops. The ensuing exchange of fire left three Lebanese soldiers and one Israeli officer dead.

According to an article in Now Lebanon, Kfar Kila is a popular place for Lebanese activists and tourists to shout at or throw rocks at Israelis working in fields across the border. (© 2012 THE TIMES OF ISRAEL 06/10/12)