Closures Imposed on PA Crossings for Jewish Holiday of Simchat Torah

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In accordance with standard security procedures, Israel has closed the entry and exit crossings with the Palestinian Authority in advance of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which begins Sunday evening at sunset.

Effective midnight Saturday night, Arabs from the Palestinian Authority are blocked from entering pre-1967 Israel for the next 48 hours.

As with every Jewish holiday, there will be exceptions made for humanitarian cases and medical emergencies, pending approval from the IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

The crossings and checkpoints are expected to reopen Monday night at midnight after the end of the holiday, pending a ‘situational assessment,’ the IDF said in a statement.