Even as more and more countries are offering to provide shelter and care to the tens of thousands of migrants streaming into Europe, Israel is shutting its doors to the refugees from Syria and elsewhere by building a massive wall along the Syrian border.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by defence officials, toured a section of the wall on Sunday, reaffirming that his country will protect its borders and will not allow the entry of new migrants.
"Israel is a small country, a very small country, that lacks demographic and geographic depth. Therefore, we must control our borders, against both illegal migrants and terrorism," Netanyahu said at the start of a Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The Israeli leader said his government is completely aware of the danger of losing control of the country's border, including the threats of terrorism and smuggling.
"Today, we see what is happening to countries that have lost control of their border. The combination of very brutal terrorism, labour migrants, smugglers and the loss of control in the face of the human tragedy that is taking place 360 degrees says that we must restore control and ensure Israel's control of its borders," he said.
Isaac Herzog, leader of the opposition Zionist Union, earlier called on Netanyahu's government to accept some refugees affected by the conflict in Syria.
"Jews cannot be apathetic when hundreds of thousands of refugees are searching for safe haven," Herzog said
Netanyahu maintained that Israel is not apathetic to the migrants, but must first uphold its national interest.
"Israel is not indifferent to the human tragedy of the refugees from Syria and Africa," Netanyahu said.
To prove his point, the Israeli leader said his country has extended medical aid to about 1,000 Syrians wounded in fighting near the Golan Heights frontier.
Israel's borders with Egypt and Golan Heights already have security fences. The Syrian border fence, once completed, will seal Israel's borders with unfriendly neighbours.
According to the United Nations, some 300,000 people have fled the Middle East and North Africa for Europe this year due to conflict in these areas. About 2,500 refugees have died in their attempt to find safe haven elsewhere
