West Bank Placed Under Strict Closure

Monday April 18, 2011 12:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

As Israel prepares to mark the Jewish Pesach feast, the Israeli army placed the occupied West Bank under strict siege starting Sunday at midnight and lasting until April 26.

The decision was made by Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak. Israeli sources claimed only humanitarian and medical cases will be allowed to cross into Israel after obtaining a permit from the so-called Civil Administration Office.

Israeli enforces this type of closure each year around Pesach and other major Jewish holidays.

Such closures also restrict the freedom of movement of the Palestinians within the occupied territories as the army enforces further restrictions, especially on roads that are also used by Jewish settlers and main roads linking between different parts of the occupied territories.

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