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Israeli army imposes West Bank closure on Knesset election day
The Israeli army imposed a total closure on the occupied West Bank on October 27, the day of the Knesset election, closing all land crossings and barring Palestinian workers from entering or leaving. The siege imposed on Hebron and Halhul is also continuing.
The Israeli army announced a total closure of the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, October 27, coinciding with the Knesset election. The closure includes all land crossings with the West Bank.
The army spokesperson said the political echelon had decided, based on a recommendation from the security agencies, to impose the total closure on election day. The measure includes barring Palestinian workers from entering or leaving the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, including the industrial zones.
Restrictions on workers before the vote
Since Sunday morning, the army has also imposed restrictions on Palestinian workers. Workers from the West Bank and the Jordan Valley have been barred from entering for work on Sunday and Monday, except in the industrial zones.
Siege of Hebron and Halhul continues
The decision comes as the military siege imposed on the cities of Hebron and Halhul in the southern West Bank continues. The siege followed an armed attack near Hebron on Friday in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were wounded; the two Palestinian gunmen who carried out the attack were also killed.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said around 2,000 Palestinians had been displaced from their homes in Hebron, adding that they would not be allowed to return to their neighborhoods until what he described as problems with Hamas there were resolved.
Over the past two days, the army, border police and the General Security Service, known as the Shin Bet, have carried out a wide-ranging raid campaign targeting around 40 villages in the West Bank. Around 40 Palestinians were arrested.
Alert ahead of the election
The Israeli army announced its highest level of alert on all fronts and barred soldiers from leaving their units from Thursday until election day, amid concerns about a possible security escalation with Iran and Hezbollah.
Opinion polls indicate a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot.
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