JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel closed the West Bank on Sunday at midnight ahead of the celebration of the Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashana, amid fear of attacks by Palestinian militants.
An army spokesman said in a statement that the measure would be lifted on Wednesday at midnight (2100 GMT).
"The Israeli army believes that the Jewish New Year is a very sensitive moment," the spokesman said.
"Therefore the Israeli army will raise its alert level to make sure people are safe while keeping the daily life of the Palestinian population as normal as possible."
The West Bank is routinely closed before Jewish holidays for fear of attacks.
Since the start of the second intifada in September 2000, the West Bank has been partially blocked off, with Israel authorising only tens of thousands of Palestinians to travel to the Jewish state every day.
The Gaza Strip has been cut off since the Islamist Hamas movement took over the region in June last year.
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