iStock/Thinkstock(JERUSALEM) — When the sun sets Tuesday evening, the Jewish Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, will begin.
In preparation, security has been tightened in Israel, especially in Jerusalem after more than 10 days of clashes in the Old City and Arab neighborhoods between Palestinians and Israeli police.
More than 3,000 Israeli security personnel will be on duty in Jerusalem along with armed and trained volunteer units in residential areas.
Through midnight Wednesday, every checkpoint along the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be closed. Only Palestinians with medical or other humanitarian emergencies will be allowed into Israel.
Access to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque has been restricted to Muslim men over 40 to prevent any attacks on the nearby Western Wall — thousands of Jews will pray there over Yom Kippur.
Some roadblocks have also gone up along the seams between Jewish and Arab neighborhoods and more security guards are on duty at synagogues.
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