Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak today announced the decision to expedite construction on the separation wall snaking along the border between Egypt and Israel. The new steps will put the wall on schedule to be completed a half a year before initially thought, Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv reported. The decision was made after recent attacks killed eight Israelis and injured 26 in the Red Sea resort town of Eilat. Two new contracting companies were hired to put the separation wall on an expedited schedule, Barak reported. The wall will now be finished in 2012, not 2013, reported Ma'ariv. Forty-five kilometers of the wall is now finished, reported Israeli Minister of Defense Spokesman Udi Shani, adding that 100 km will be finished at the end of 2011. At the end of 2012, the full 2000 km, from Eilat to Karam Abu Gaber gate, will be completed.
