Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF on Sunday to impose a general closure over the Judea and Samaria region, following professional operational recommendations from the defense establishment and the military. The decision was formalized amid heightened security preparations ahead of the Sukkot festival and intermediate holiday days (Chol HaMoed), aimed at ensuring a comprehensive defense envelope and maintaining security across the sector.
Under the updated directive, the entry of Arab laborers into Israeli communities throughout Judea and Samaria will not be permitted during Sukkot and the intermediate days of the holiday. Concurrently, defense officials clarified that entry for essential workers into industrial zones in Judea and Samaria will be authorized only on a selective, case-by-case basis, subject to rigorous security protocols established by Central Command.
Furthermore, it was determined that no exceptional entry permits will be approved during the closure period, except for isolated permits stemming from formal State commitments submitted to the High Court of Justice. Security forces are deployed in reinforced numbers throughout the sector to strictly enforce the directives and fully protect residents and holiday travelers.