Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Israel started building a barrier along its border with Egypt Monday . The Israeli government says it is to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into the country and to stop smuggling . The 240-kilometer-long , $ 370 million barrier will be part fence and part surveillance technology . The project was announced in January by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . `` This is a strategic decision to ensure the Jewish and democratic character of the state of Israel , '' he said . The Israeli military estimates around 5,000 infiltrators entered Israel over the past year as well as 1.3 tonnes of hash and 130 kilograms of heroin . Israeli human rights group Hotline for Migrant Workers estimates 90 percent of those crossing the border illegally are refugees from northern Africa . The rest are thought to be migrant workers or traffickers of drugs and women . The barrier could take several years to build across some difficult terrain . Israel 's former ambassador to Egypt , Eli Shaked , told CNN there is nothing political about the decision to build it . `` It is a necessity . It had to be done a long time ago . It is not something directed at Egypt , '' he said . Israel has already built a controversial barrier separating the West Bank from Israel . Construction started in 2002 in an attempt to stem the tide of Palestinian suicide bombing attacks during the course of the second intifada , which began in September 2000 . Palestinians claim it is a land grab and has separated farmers from their lands and sometimes families from each other . The United Nations says 80 percent of it is built on Palestinian land .
Construction begins on a barrier along Israel 's southern border . It will be part fence and part surveillance technology . Score: 6