Israel prepares to observe Yom Kippur holiday amid security concerns

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel is preparing on Friday to observe Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, amid heightened security concerns across the country.

The Jewish holiday, considered the most sacred in Judaism, begins at sunset Friday and lasts until sunset on Saturday.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Yom Kippur is "the holiest day in Jewish holidays and religious rituals, with fasting lasting approximately 26 hours."

"During this day, all public and private transportation across the country comes to a halt, and all public offices, institutions, and services are suspended, with the exception of emergency and security services,” it said.

"All media outlets, including print, radio, and television, will also cease operations, and ports and airports will be completely closed," the corporation stated.

Walla news site reported, "Synagogues in major cities and at-risk areas will be under armed guard on Yom Kippur due to fears of potential attacks." The source of the threats was not specified.

“Police have already been deployed along main highways and city centers, with particular attention to mixed Jewish and Arab cities, where tensions are expected to be heightened during the holiday,” it added.

According to unnamed Israeli security sources, "there are currently 60 specific threats of attacks, most originating from the West Bank," although the nature of these threats was not clarified.

Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank amid an ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed over 42,100 Palestinian lives, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7 last year.

According to Palestinian sources, at least 749 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 6,250 injured in the occupied territory during the same period.

The situation continues to escalate following a landmark opinion by the International Court of Justice on July 19, which declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land unlawful and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi