By Xinhua
Jerusalem : In fear of potential attacks, Israeli security establishment has raised its state of alert to the highest level ahead of Jewish New Year and imposed complete closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, local media said Wednesday.
The alert was announced Tuesday in response to warnings of potential “terror attacks” over Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, according to the report.
The security establishment had received some eight specific warnings of potential “terror attacks” over the holiday and dozens of general indications of possible shooting and rocket attacks, suicide bombings and kidnapping attempts, military sources were quoted as saying..
In the wake of Tuesday morning’s attack on Israel’s western Negev military base of Zikim, and considering the beginning of Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan, Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to impose a full closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from early Wednesday morning.
Since Rosh Hashana and the beginning of Ramadan overlap, Jerusalem police have been especially reinforced. Thousands of policemen will be deployed in the city’s streets, assuring those who wish to pray at the Western Wall or Temple Mount are able to do so safely.
During Friday, the first Friday of Ramadan, security forces will allow Palestinian men over the age of 45 and Palestinian women over 35 to enter Temple Mount for prayer services, providing they have the appropriate entry permits.
Alert has also been boosted at Israeli embassies and consulates abroad, particularly in security-sensitive countries.
Rosh Hashanah will begin at sunset Wednesday and conclude at nightfall of Friday.