Israel Extends Closure on Palestinian TerritoriesIsrael has decided to extend the closure on the Palestinian self-rule West Bank and Gaza, barring the Palestinians from entering Israel in a bid to reduce friction.The ban issued early Friday was scheduled to last until Monday evening, the end of the holiest Jewish day in the year, the Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. But under the new order, it will be maintained after the Jewish holiday. At the same time, Israelis are still not permitted to enter the areas under the control of the Palestinian National Authority because of the risks there. However, 20,000 Palestinians from the territories who have special passes will be allowed to come to work in Israel on Tuesday. In view of the escalating tension, particularly after the kidnap of three Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese Hezbollah group Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has given a special dispensation to soldiers who are involved in fighting to eat and drink on Yom Kippur, a fasting day for Jews. In the latest of a series of Israeli backlash attacks, four Jewish youths on Sunday stabbed an Israeli Arab who had come to work in the central Israeli town of Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel Radio reported. The victim's condition was not immediately known. Earlier in the day, police rounded up dozens of Jews suspected of participating in overnight anti-Arab rioting in and around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. |
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