In response to 38 terror threats, police increase their presence throughout Israel.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
In response to 38 specific terror threats, police forces increased their presence throughout Israel on Wednesday preceding Yom Kippur.
Thousands of security guards, policemen, and civilian volunteers will secure numerous synagogues around Israel, as well as the surrounding areas, community centers, and religious study centers.
Magen David Adom (MDA) also stepped up preparatory measures, and was also on heightened alert to treat people weakened by the fast or injured from bicycle accidents. Since Israeli roads are closed to traffic during the Yom Kippur holiday, many people, especially children, rides their bicycles on the streets and in past years dozens have been injured in biking falls and accidents.
Jerusalem police were maintaining a beefed up presence around Jerusalem's Western Wall and the surrounding area, according to Israel Radio. Thousands were expected to reach the Western Wall during the Day of Atonement.
A 14-year-old Palestinian boy suspected of planning a suicide attack in Israel was arrested Tuesday by members of the Shin Bet in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, the Shin Bet released Wednesday morning.
The boy said that members of the Tanzim coerced him into reading his will on videotape while holding a gun and a Koran book, saying that if he did not do so, they would say that he was a traitor working with Israeli forces.
An Israeli security spokesperson said that Palestinian General Intelligence Officer Jamal Karnawi pressed the Tanzim to recruit the boy.