Israeli ministries of finance and defense have agreed to allocate 5.8 billion shekels (about 1.3 billion US dollars) for the separation fence, 15 percent more than the initial budget.

The cabinet passed the modified route of the separation fence on Sunday.

The new route will bring the fence closer to the Green Line, the pre-1967 borders between Israel and Palestine, but leave some 7 percent of the West Bank and some 10,000 Palestinians on the Israeli side.

Changes in the route of the fence have raised its costs beyond expectations.

The separation fence extends 660 km from north to south. A total of 213 km in the north and along the Jerusalem envelope is already complete.

Another 130 km in the south is under construction.

Source: CRI News