Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH – The Israeli army closed the West Bank and Gaza Strip for two days starting Monday midnight on the occasion of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar). The Israeli army's spokesperson's unit said in a statement that all crossing to and from the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be closed until midnight Wednesday. It added that that following orders of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, individuals will be allowed to cross in cases of extreme medical or humanitarian emergency, subject to the approval of the Civil Administration, an Israeli military department responsible for coordinating civil issues between Israeli government and the Palestinians. The statement added that thousands of Palestinian workers will be barred from reaching their places of work during the two-day closure. There are some 25,000 of Palestinians working in Israel with permits and some 30,000 are working without permits from Israeli security authorities. “The army will continue to act to protect the citizens of Israel while considering the Palestinian fabric of life,” said the statement. Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio said that army and police beefed up patrols in cities, around synagogues, cemeteries and officers were also stationed at the entrances of towns, areas with large crowds and sensitive locations. The report added that the troops around Gaza Strip were put on high alert to face and escalation by Palestinian armed groups from the coastal enclave during the holiday. The report added that the Jerusalem District Police are being especially careful this year over the recent Muslim protests and the fallout over the anti-Islamic film. According to the report, police, and Border Guard officers and volunteers will be stationed at roadblocks in order to prevent traffic from the east to west side of the occupied city in order to prevent clashes between Jews and Palestinians.
