Israel enforces Passover closure

By Nick Childs
BBC News, Jerusalem

Israel says heightened security has become routine

Israel has stepped up security ahead of the annual Passover holiday.

The army measures include a closure of the Palestinian territories. Israeli radio says the police have also raised their alert level.

Extra police, troops and volunteers are being deployed to synagogues, markets and other crowded public areas.

A suicide attack on the northern town of Netanya at Passover three years ago killed 29 people - the bloodiest single incident of the Palestinian uprising.

With a fragile truce now in place between the Israelis and Palestinians, the Israeli authorities say there are no specific warnings of an attack and heightened Israeli security during public holidays has become routine.

On the other hand, there is a different and uneasy atmosphere this year because of the impending and controversial Israeli government plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank.

Thousands of sympathisers are expected to join settlers in the Gaza Strip in particular for this Passover.

And a mass anti-disengagement march and concert are planned for Wednesday in the Gush Katif settlement area.