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By Ma'an News Agency
News Report
Friday, Mar 12, 2010
Ma'an – Israeli forces imposed a general closure on the West Bank beginning Friday morning, the army said.
The decision means those Palestinians with permits will generally not be permitted to access Jerusalem over the weekend.
The
move comes in accordance with directives of the Israeli minister of
defense, Ehud Barak, following situation assessments, the army said in
a statement explaining the closure.
"The IDF will continue to
operate in order to protect the citizens of Israel while maintaining
the quality of life of the Palestinian population in the area," the
statement said, noting that some Palestinians will still be allowed to
enter Jerusalem and Israel.
For the duration of the closure,
persons who will need to pass for humanitarian reasons, including
medical patients en route to care, 1,500 medical workers, 1,100
religious workers, 550 teachers and other professional groups will be
permitted to cross subject to the authorization of the Civil
Administration, the army said.
Furthermore, the transfer of
merchandise will operate regularly while the passage of journalists
will also be permitted, the military statement added.
Similar restrictions are put in place during Jewish holidays, including Passover, which begins on 29 March.
For
Palestinian citizens of Israel and Jerusalem residents, Israeli police
imposed tight restrictions on the entry of worshipers to the Al-Aqsa
Mosque, the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights reported
Thursday.
Police began preventing worshipers under the age of
50 from entering the mosque for prayer on Thursday, while those who
were allowed to access had to leave their IDs with Israeli police until
they finished and left, the center said in a statement.
The
move reportedly infuriated worshipers, and the center condemned the
measure as a violation of privacy and freedom to worship. It expected
the coming hours to see further restrictions on worshipers after
violent clashes left dozens injured a week prior.
Israeli
police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld confirmed the age restrictions, which
he said were necessitated by recent disturbances at the East Jerusalem
site, considered to be among the holiest for Muslims and Jews.
"Last
week there were no age limits, which Palestinian youths took as an
opportunity to riot at the Temple Mount," he told Ma'an, referring to
clashes at left more than 50 Palestinians and at least 18 Israeli
police officers injured.
However, Rosenfeld said reports of ID
restrictions at the site were baseless. "This is completely untrue," he
said, adding that while existing restrictions were increased, no new
policies were being implemented.
Police have called in extra
forces in Jerusalem, upping deployment specifically in the Old City
ahead of Friday prayers, he said.
Ma'an News Agency
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