Israel On Alert

Reports emerging on 21 September 2006 indicate that Israeli security forces will be on the second highest level of alert for Rosh Hashana -- the Jewish New Year -- and the upcoming holidays, in light of warnings of terror attacks. Thousands of additional police, border police and soldiers will be deployed to guard transportation depots, places of entertainment and other public gathering places. Police officials have urged citizens to stay alert during the holiday season.

In another development, Jerusalem police officials have designated separate streets for Muslims and Jews during the peak hours of Friday prayers to avoid clashes during the Jewish holiday period and Ramadan. According to this arrangement, Muslims will be allocated Hagay Street, which crosses the Old City from south to north, whereas the Jews will be allocated Shalshelet Street, which crosses the Old City from west to east. Because the Jewish month of Tishrei will coincide with the Muslim month of Ramadan starting this weekend, Israeli officials fear that clashes are likely to break out between the tens of thousands of Jewish and Muslim worshippers in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli officials also anticipate a record number of Jewish visitors to the city where an estimated 1 million people are expected to arrive at the Western Wall on Sukkoth alone.