Work is beginning in Israel on a barrier along the border with Egypt, aimed at stemming the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
The barrier, including an electric fence and surveillance technology, will run for 250km (155 miles).
Work on the $372m (£232m) project is expected to take up to a year.
Hundreds of migrants - including many asylum seekers - enter Israel from Egypt every week, Israeli government figures suggest.
Egyptian border guards have shot dead dozens of migrants - mostly from Africa - in recent years.
Egyptian officials insist they only shoot at the border after those crossing ignore repeated orders to stop, and point out that human-trafficking gangs carry guns.
However, the United Nations and human rights groups have asked Egypt to stop excessive force being used.
BBC News
