Israel’s borders closed for Yom Kippur – 40th war anniversary
The West Bank (Judea and Samaria) is sealed and Israeli air space closed in respect of the most solemn day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which this year also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the war which erupted on that day in 1973. The closures start Friday afternoon and end Saturday night, and include all road traffic and places of business and entertainment.
Up until Friday 13:50, 207 commercial flights take off from Ben Gurion international airport, which reopens 22:30 Saturday night.
Police and first aid services are on high emergency preparedness for the fast, which occurs in exceptionally hot and dry weather conditions, and memorial ceremonies for the men and women who fell in the 1973 war. The military remains at a high level of readiness in view of tensions in the northern and southern borders.