Fearing a repeat of Arab rioting over Israel’s national heritage list, the IDF sealed off the West Bank on Friday, while police boosted their presence in Jerusalem.
Following a security assessment, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the army to impose a general closure on the West Bank, beginning at midnight Thursday and continuing until midnight Saturday.
However, travel to and from the territories was being permitted in humanitarian cases.
In Jerusalem, police reinforcements were deployed on the Temple Mount, as well as elsewhere in and around the Old City.
Police also said that only men over 50 and women would be allowed to pray Friday on the mount.
It followed an intelligence report warning of violence over the decision to include Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs and Bethlehem's Rachel's Tomb on the heritage list.
Arab rioters and policemen have been wounded in the recent violence, which has included youths hurling rocks down at Western Wall worshipers from the Temple Mount.