Israel Reinstates Closure on Areas Under Full Palestinian ControlThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reinstated a blockade of the areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that are under full Palestinian control (Area A), Friday evening.The decision was taken after two Israeli settlers were killed by Palestinian gunmen Friday morning in Kiryat Arba settlement near the West Bank city of Hebron and another Israeli was also killed by Palestinian gunmen in the evening near the West Bank city of Jericho. Under the closure, no movement is permitted into or out of Area A except those related to humanitarian needs. Seven Palestinians were reported killed during flaring clashes on Friday when the Palestinians marked the 13th anniversary of their first intifada, or uprising, in 1987. Palestinians living in the West Bank were barred from entering their holy shrines in the Old City of Jerusalem for their second Friday prayers since the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. As a good-will gesture upon the arrival of Ramadan which fell on November 27 and as part of its confidence-building measures aimed to reduce tensions, Israel lifted closure of occupied Palestinian territories which it imposed on November 13 following the killing of four Israelis in Palestinian drive-by shootings in the West Bank. Israel first imposed a closure on the territories under full Palestinian control on October 6. Gunfire raged in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Friday. In the evening, the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo in southern Jerusalem was again under Palestinian shootings. No casualties were reported. |
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