An Israeli flag flies at a desert checkpoint

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The fence will span 30 kilometers (19 miles) along Israel's border with Jordan

The goal is to protect a future airport, and control "illegal migrants and terrorists."

CNN  — 

Israel began construction of a fence along its border with Jordan on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at a weekly cabinet meeting.

“Today, we are starting to build a fence on our eastern border,” he said Sunday.

World divided by walls

“In the first stage, we will build it from Timna to Eilat in order to protect the airport being built there, and we will continue the fence up to the Golan Heights, where we have already built a strong security fence.”

Related: Israel to build fence along Syrian border

“To the extent that it is possible we will encompass Israel’s borders with a security fence and barriers that will allow us to control our borders,” Netanyahu said.

“We will not allow Israel to be flooded with illegal migrants and terrorists.”

CNN’s Oren Lieberman contributed to this report