JERUSALEM, Oct 4 : Israel is on "lockdown" for the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur, according to AFP, as it coincides with the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha, raising concerns that tensions may boil over between the two communities.
This is the first time the two festivals have coincided in 30 years - the fast of Yom Kippur begins at sunset Friday and lasts for 25 hours with all work, traffic, and TV and radio broadcasts coming to a halt.
Eid-ul-Azha, conversely, involves a combination of feasting and distribution of meat to the poor.Israeli security forces sealed off the West Bank from Thursday night to Saturday night, only allowing Palestinians in for "humanitarian" reasons.
Israel frequently closes its borders to Palestinians during religious holiday citing attacks on congregations of Jews.
?MIDDLE EAST EYE