IDF puts 5 battalions on alert, cancels all weekend leave to deal with unrest

Following Thursday's announcement by the Islamic Waqf that the mosques on the Temple Mount will remain closed on Friday, the IDF General Staff decided to place five battalions on alert due to the possibility of Palestinian rioting, the IDF Spokesman's Office said. Also, the chief of staff, Lieut. Gen. Gady Eisenkott, ordered the cancellation of all leaves for this weekend. Meanwhile, the Israel Police and the Border Police announced they were going on alert and mobilizing their forces to deal with the possible unrest.