Israel on Thursday imposed a major clampdown on the occupied territories after Yasser Arafat’s death due to fears of attacks as armed militants loyal to the veteran Palestinian leader vowed to avenge his passing.
Immediately following the announcement early on Thursday that Arafat had died in a French hospital, the Israeli army began deploying reinforcements around towns and Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
The soldiers, notably those deployed around Ramallah, were carrying the necessary equipment to disperse any eventual unruly demonstrations, military radio reported.
The stepped-up security means that West Bank Palestinians with valid work permits are barred from entering Israeli territory until further notice.
The Gaza Strip is under permanent isolation.
Amid fears of a possible outbreak of anti-Israeli attacks, Israeli police sent extra officers to take up positions along the so-called ”green line” that separates the West Bank from Israeli soil, and encircles the Gaza Strip.
Israeli police will also send reinforcements to east Jerusalem to head off any violence linked to Arafat’s death, which came just ahead of the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan this weekend, the radio report said.
Amid the sweeping security deployment, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed offshoot of Arafat’s mainstream Fatah party, urged militants to attack Israel to avenge the ”Zionist assassination” of their beloved leader.
”Zionist Israel and the government of [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon are responsible for the assassination of our leader by putting him under siege,” the group said in a statement.
Announcing a state of high alert across the Palestinian territories, it called on people to ”hit out and strike the occupation everywhere. This crime will not go without punishment.”
The Israeli prisons administration announced that it will allow about 4 000 Palestinians detained ”for security reasons” to participate in jailhouse mourning ceremonies.
Reinforcements have been deployed within Israeli jails to quell any eventual riots, military radio said.
Israel’s Deputy Defence Minister, Zeev Boim, said Israeli and Palestinian officials will ”coordinate their efforts, as we have a common interest in ensuring that events in Ramallah remain under control”.
An official funeral for Arafat is to take place on Friday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, followed by a burial in Arafat’s Muqataa compound in Ramallah, where he spent the last three years of his life under virtual house arrest.
The Palestinians will be responsible for security at the burial while the Israeli army, which had raised its alert level in anticipation of Arafat’s death, will be responsible for security around Ramallah.
Israelis wishing to attend the burial service will have to sign a document before entering Ramallah that will absolve the Israeli army of all responsibility for their security, officials said. — Sapa-AFP
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