A closure has been placed on PA (Palestinian Authority) residents of Yehuda and Shomron until after Yom Kippur. Therefore, they are prohibited from crossing into pre-1967 Israel. Exceptions are made in cases of humanitarian need.

** Police remain on high alert nationwide. All districts have moved to one level below a state of emergency, with special attention given to Jerusalem’s Old City and other ‘sensitive’ areas. Special attention is also being focused on racially mixed areas, such as Akko, to prevent violence between Jews and Arabs.

** Ministry of Defense officials on erev Yom Kippur announced 2,689 soldiers fell in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Today, there are 1,226 orphans living in Israel, 810 widows and 880 bereaved parents.

** Quartet to convene on Sunday in the hope of bringing Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) back to the negotiating table.

** Thousands were on hand at the Kosel on Thursday night for the erev Yom Kippur slichos in the presence of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.

** Thousands were on hand at the Beersheva stadium on Thursday night for erev Yom Kippur slichos in the presence of HaGaon HaRav Binyamin Batzri Shlita.

** Public inter-city buses began halting service at 1:00pm. Intra-city routes began halting service at 2:30pm. Train service will also stop, resuming on Sunday morning.

** In Hebron, preparations are underway to accommodate the many male guests expected for Yom Kippur. The entire Ma’aras HaMachpela is open to Jews only, including Ulam Yitzchak.

** The nation’s residents have extended their deadline for a walkout until Tuesday, giving negotiators additional time to avert a strike that would devastate the nation’s government hospitals.

** YNET: Poll shows 53% of Israelis fast on Yom Kippur; 11% view it as a day providing a body cleansing opportunity; 9% view it as a day to ride bicycles.

** Resident of Tuba el-Zangaria feel the hands of those responsible for burning the mosque should be cut off.

** Many people arrived in the Zichron Meir neighborhood of Bnei Brak on erev Shabbos to wish HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner a Gmar Tov. Other Gedolim Shlita are also receiving khal ahead of Shabbos/Yomtov.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)