Offshore Security Conference Special Report: Border Protection
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עברית (Hebrew)
Over 800 visitors participated in Israel’s Offshore and Perimeter Security Conference.
Ben Gurion Airport’s defense systems include various protective measures: A perimeter fence around the compound, a radar to detect intruders, day and night cameras, various sensors and additional equipment, in addition to routine inspections of tax-free shops, plane food, diamonds and even implants. This according to Roni Tidhar from Ben Gurion Airport’s security division, in his lecture given at the Offshore and Perimeter Security Conference. The conference, taking place in central Israel, was organized by the iHLS new website.
Tidhar said that these security measures are critical, considering the magnitude of the dangers threatening airports all over the world. These threats include cyber attacks aimed at disrupting aviation, explosive materials, technical sabotage, food poisoning, rocket fire, attacking the airport using drones, chemical or biological attacks, dirty bombs and more.
Airport records show 4,000 events each year, with 7,000 surprise drills conducted to enhance employee readiness.
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
Brig. Gen. Eran Ofir, Head of the Security Fence Branch in Israel’s Ministry of Defense, gave more details on Israel’s border fences. The “Hourglass” project – the Israel-Egypt border fence – has been completed, resulting in the number of infiltrators going down to zero. The Hourglass array includes a 5-meter tall fence to prevent or slow border crossing, a “soft” strip where intruders leave footprints and a route for patrols. Aside from Hourglass, the Security Fence Branch also completed a 242-kilometer long perimeter fence surrounding the southern city of Eilat, including a central command room and camera masts. A 103-kilometer long fence was completed in the Golan Heights and more than 500 kilometers of fence and fortifications were built in Judea and Samaria, to prevent terrorist intrusions into settlements. According to Brig. Gen. Ofir Prime Minister Netanyahu also intends to build a fence along the border with Jordan, although the project still hasn’t received any funds.
Shlomo Mofaz, CEO of Foresight Prudence, presented a method of risk management and analysis covering threats to infrastructure facilities, on land and at sea. The Acumen system can help manage events, save lives and minimize financial damages. It collects intelligence from various sources, conducts in-depth analysis of events, provides risk assessments and gives recommendations to clients – such as a need for more skilled employees, a perimeter fence or missile defense systems.
