 In February 2004, The Guardian reported that Yemeni opposition newspapers likened the barrier to the Israeli West Bank barrier, while The Independent wrote "Saudi Arabia, one of the most vocal critics in the Arab world of Israel's 'security fence' in the West Bank, is quietly emulating the Israeli example by erecting a barrier along its porous border with Yemen".Saudi officials rejected the comparison saying it was built to prevent infiltration and smuggling.The Schengen Area is a multilateral agreement between 26 states in which they in most cases abolish the border control among themselves.