Israel fears rioting, seals West Bank and Gaza
Israel sealed the West Bank and Gaza Strip and sent troop reinforcements to the areas today, in response to Yasser Arafat’s death, the military said.
Israel also increased security at Jewish settlements, fearing widespread Palestinian riots in the coming days.
“The Israeli Defence Forces are deploying to allow a dignified funeral ceremony for chairman Arafat,” an army statement said.
The military said it would restrict access to the funeral, set for Saturday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and only allow Palestinians with the necessary permits to attend.
The military will allow symbolic funeral processions to be held in towns and refugee camps across the West Bank and Gaza, officials said.
In the past four years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Israel has imposed strict travel restrictions on the Palestinians and severely limited their access to Israel.
Today’s blanket closure means no Palestinians will be able to enter Israel.
The military also sent troop reinforcements to the West Bank and Gaza.
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