A view of Syria from Israeli side of the border. Photo: wiki commons.

Israel has begun development of what it claims will be the world’s most advanced border system, according to Israeli daily Maariv.

Situated between the Golan Heights and Syria, the fence will cost an estimated quarter of a billion dollars. Defense officials claim that the project has no connection to recent turmoil in the north, but that the decision was made last year given the already weakening Syrian government.

The fence, which will be completed this year, will soon be equipped with technology able to monitor and sensor any movement or suspicious activity near the border. Data collected will be transferred to a central control center able to analyze and then respond to it accordingly.

The Syrian civil war has increasingly encroached on Israel’s northern border. In November mortar fire from Syria landed in Israel, prompting the IDF to fire warning shots back into Syria.

In December an Israeli intelligence official was quoted as saying that the border with Syria will be  “the hottest border in Israel,” even more dangerous and active than those shared with Egypt and Gaza.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as fears that chemical weapons could fall into the hands of Hezbollah or other terrorist groups have gained traction. Last week reports surfaced that Israel had launched strikes in Syria to prevent this from happening.