CAIRO: Work on the underground barrier that Egypt is building along its border with Gaza has intensified as it nears areas famous for the number of smuggling tunnels running beneath them. Sources in the area confirmed that work on the wall was nearing populated locations such as Salaheldin where tunnels used to smuggle goods into Gaza are prevalent. The sources described that work on the wall was being conducted "with caution in those areas because they were populated. Authorities in North Sinai have been making census reports in Salaheldin, possibly to relocate residents away from the border. The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted an Egyptian official Tuesday as saying that huge swathes of the underground wall had already been built under American and French supervision and security patrols had increased in the area. Sources told Daily News Egypt that construction of the wall was to continue through Farfareya, Salaheldin and Barahma, which reportedly have the most number of tunnels. By some accounts the tunnel activity has seen a decrease in recent times, but not due to this new wall, which has been labeled a tremendous waste of money. Tagammu party member in North Sinai Khalil Jabr Sawarkeh told Daily News Egypt that "security forces have cut the flow at the source, allowing less goods into the area and preventing certain types of goods into all of North Sinai, such as electronic equipment. This has meant that residents of North Sinai have also suffered from shortages in the area because much has been stopped at the Mubarak Peace Bridge that leads into the northern governorate. Egypt began building the underground barrier earlier this year, but at first refused to confirm that it was doing so. Later, it refused to say that it was a wall, but rather an extension of the barbed wire fence running across the border above ground. Egyptian officials added that Egypt had the right to defend its territorial integrity, stating that the tunnels were a threat to national security. Sawarkeh said that the wall was rather built after pressure from Israel and the US to stem the flow of goods and weapons going through the tunnels. "We've spent so much money on this underground wall and we're doing it for Israel, he said, "whoever says it is for national security is a liar. On Tuesday, the State Council delayed until April 20 examination of a lawsuit filed against the construction of the underground wall. The State Case Authority had argued in a previous session that the matter could not be taken to court because it was related to the sovereignty of the state and the protection of Egyptian national security.
