Closure imposed on West Bank ahead of holiday weekend; IDF, police and MDA to bolster presence nationwide

The defense establishment is on high alert ahead of Passover: the IDF and Israel Police have ordered increased deployment nationwide and will be assisted by the Border Guard and thousands of volunteers.

The IDF has imposed a closure on the West Bank, starting at midnight Friday and lasting throughout Passover weekend; with exceptions for medical emergencies and humanitarian cases.

Head of the Police Operations Directorate Commander Nisim Mor told Ynet that throughout the weekend the department will be on Alert Level C, adding that security assessments will be held throughout the mid-holidays.

Thousands of police and Border Guard officers will be deployed in religious and holy sites, major cities and public spaces; as well as in Jerusalem proper, the Western Wall, the Jerusalem vicinity area and West Bank checkpoints.

The Highway Police will also be on high alert throughout the holiday, with hundreds of police cruisers deployed nationwide. Magen David Adom has been placed on Readiness Level B – its second- highest. Hundreds of ambulances, EMT buses and motorcycles and paramedics have been placed on call.

Ahead of Passover travelling, the Counter Terrorism Bureau has reiterated its travel advisories to Sinai and Turkey. The CTB cited credible threats to Israelis planning to travel to both destinations. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 04/06/12)