For Israel Police, the IDF, border police, Magen David Adom, Zaka, Ichud Hatzalah and other emergency organizations, Independence Day means high alert status.

EMS organizations are particularly concerned this year as hundreds of thousands of people will be outdoors during the hot afternoon hours. Forecasters predict the holiday will be accompanied by unseasonably hot temperatures; however some relief from the previous days is expected.

Emergency agencies urge campers to be especially careful to extinguish barbeques before leaving the area and to clean up after themselves.

A closure has been clamped on PA (Palestinian Authority) residents from the start of Memorial Day until midnight motzei Independence Day. This means PA residents are prohibited from crossing into Green Line Israel. Exceptions are made in cases of humanitarian need.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)