In breaking with what has become standard operating procedure, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has decided that he will not be placing a closure on PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas over Rosh Hashanah. Usually, the residents of those areas are prohibited from entering into Green Line Israel over yomtov, a precaution taken to prevent terror attacks.

After consulting with his senior commanders and intelligence community officials, the defense minister has decided to keep forces at high alert throughout Yehuda and Shomron but he is not placing a closure on those areas.

Police and other security agencies remain on high alert with a focus on ‘sensitive areas’ including Jerusalem’s Old City and the Kosel. MDA, Ichud Hatzalah, and Zaka remain on high alert as well. MDA has moved to the next to its highest operations standby status.

Ichud Hatzalah has sent instructions to its personnel as how to prepare for the yomtov, both from an operational and Halachic standpoint.

Traffic police in Yerushalayim have also been deployed in larger numbers to keep traffic flowing around the Old City.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)