Israel's new wall plan for the Jordan valley

Israel is mulling plans for a security barrier that would cut off the Jordan valley from the West Bank.

A senior official said the country's Defence Ministry had formulated the plan, which would connect the Jordan valley to Israel. The proposal has not yet been presented to the government for approval.

Earlier this month, the government approved security barriers that would run through the West Bank, in most areas relatively close to Israel. The Jordan valley segment would be further to the east. The official said this segment would be the last to be built, depending on the security situation.

Israel says it is building the fences, razor wire and trenches to keep out suicide bombers and gunmen. The Palestinians say Israel is unilaterally drawing a border and making it impossible to establish a viable Palestinian state.

Yesterday, Islamic militants killed three Israeli soldiers and wounded two on an army base at the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.