The Israeli government hopes that the fence being built along the Egyptian border will keep out most infiltrators.
At a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, officials also noted delays that have plagued the virtual fence, being developed with the Boeing Corporation.
"The city has a strong working relationship with Independence National Historical Park," he added, "and we expect the issue will be resolved without this proposed fence being installed".
"Anyone who harms Israel, a little or a lot, will have his hand chopped off," he said, using a biblical phrase, as he toured the construction of a security fence being built between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, just to the north.
But if there is no border, there is now a barrier, a giant fence being constructed along the length of the country that will give physical form to the division between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
The security fence being built along America's southern border slices through a number of key wildlife refuges, preventing the migration of animals such as black bears, grey wolves and jaguars.
