Israel closes West Bank and Gaza borders, deploys forces in various areas

Israel elevated the alert status among its police forces on the occasion of Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, and will continue to do so over the next 10 days. Israeli police deployed thousands of its forces in the vicinity of shrines, holy tombs and synagogues and at the entrance of main towns, crowded places, health institutions and vital locations. West Bank and Gaza Strip border crossings have been closed by Israeli police since Monday midnight, prohibiting Palestinian residents from entering areas under Israeli control, Radio Israel reported. These measures have been taken to protect Israeli civilians, without disturbing Palestinian citizens' daily routine, it added. The security measures in Jerusalem were tightened due to protests held by groups of Muslims against the production of the anti-Islam movie. Israeli forces supported by border guards and groups of volunteers will be deployed around crossings that are set close to Jerusalem to prevent any clashes between the holy city's Muslim and Jewish residents. Thousands of Jewish extremists headed to Jerusalem last night and performed prayers by Al-Buraq Sqaure (Wailing Wall), as part of their 'Yom Kippur' rituals. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people.