Police heighten security for Yom Kippur, IDF to impose general closure on territories

The IDF announces it will stop movement into Israel from Judea and Samaria, as well as Gaza crossings, from Tuesday at noon until Wednesday, one minute before midnight.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD, YAAKOV LAPPIN
Updated: SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 05:03
A Palestinian throws a stone at a Border Police vehicle during a protest near Ramallah (photo credit: REUTERS)
A Palestinian throws a stone at a Border Police vehicle during a protest near Ramallah
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Police on Monday announced the arrests of 27 additional Palestinian suspects accused of throwing rocks and firebombs at officers in flashpoint Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, bringing the three-day arrest tally to 66.
Most of the apprehensions took place overnight in Isawiya, Silwan, Jebl Mukaber, and Ras el-Amud, where last week masked Palestinian youths threw firebombs and rocks at Border Police, wounding three officers, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Thirty-nine more Palestinians were arrested between Friday and Saturday Rosenfeld said, adding that the suspects’ ages ranged from 14 to 38.
The recent spike in rioting followed Defense Minister’s Moshe Ya’alon’s edict earlier this month banning two radical Muslim groups, who continually attack and harass Jewish visitors, from the Temple Mount.
Rosenfeld said that despite a markedly increased police presence on Monday, no riots or attacks were reported in east Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount or in the Old City.
“Israeli police continue to implement security measures in and around different neighborhoods throughout Jerusalem,” he said. “The police continue to search Arab neighborhoods to find known suspects who have been involved in disturbances.”
The arrests were aided in part by surveillance footage obtained by CCTV cameras, he said, adding that many more arrests are expected in the coming days.
“Based on video footage and other sources, police will continue to make arrests,” he said.
The ongoing arrests come amid police and IDF security preparations to ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of Jews expected at the Western Wall on Yom Kippur.
“Thousands of police will be in Jerusalem,” Rosenfeld said.
Additionally, the IDF announced on Monday that it will stop movement into Israel from Judea and Samaria, as well as Gaza crossings, from Tuesday at noon until Wednesday, one minute before midnight.
The closure is an annual security precaution, and comes in line with an order by Ya’alon.
“The lifting of the closure will occur in two days... in accordance with a situation evaluation,” the IDF added.