Yom Kippur Approaches, Israel Ready For Possible Violence

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is upon us. The holiday begins Tuesday at sunset and extends until nightfall on Wednesday. Yom Kippur is the day to atone for all the sins of the past year and takes place on the 10th day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish year. It is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Those recognizing Yom Kippur participate in a 25-hour fast and are not supposed to work on the holiday.

In Israel, preparations for Yom Kippur are underway. In response to recent Muslim riots, the country is increasing security measures for the holy day and “police and the military are on high alert,” according to Breaking Israel News.

As reported by USA Today, most of the recent violence was centered around the Temple Mount, known as the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims. The heated riots and attacks occurred just days before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which began on the evening of Sunday, September 13, and ended on the evening of Tuesday, September 15.

On September 13, a group of Palestinians, who were mostly teens, attacked police outside the Temple Mount with rocks. The police retaliated with tear gas and stun grenades. The extreme measures used by the police were ordered by the Israeli prime minister who declared that the country would be giving “tools to the police and soldiers to act very aggressively against those who throw rocks and petrol-bombs.”

Israeli officials expect more violence in response to Yom Kippur and are tightening security around the religious site.

During the Jewish holiday, Muslim men under 40 years old will be denied access to the Temple Mount. The West Bank will be completely closed as well as all passages between Israel and Gaza on the day of Yom Kippur. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has marshalled these closures for the protection of the Jewish people recognizing the holiday. Israel Defense Forces made a statement on Monday about the closures during Yom Kippur.

“During the closure, passage will be allowed only in humanitarian, medical or other special circumstances, with the approval of the [IDF’s] Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.”

Tensions are even higher because this year Yom Kippur falls on the same day as the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. As a preventative measure for the safety of the citizens, non-Muslims will not be allowed access to the Temple Mount during the four-day holiday, just as some Muslims will be barred from the holy site during Yom Kippur.

[Photo Courtesy of Spencer Platt/Getty Images]