JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief on Thursday said he had ordered preparations for reinforcing troops in the occupied West Bank ahead of Jewish high holidays and as violence surges in the territory.
“Given the tensions in Judea and Samaria and the upcoming holiday period, I am ordering the elevation of readiness of an additional division headquarters in order to reinforce the forces in the area,” Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was quoted as saying in a military statement, using the Biblical term for the West Bank.
“In addition, preparations must be made for the immediate deployment of units and battalions to reinforce the area,” he added.
“The IDF, across all of its arrays, will maintain full, multi-front readiness throughout the holiday period — there will be no reduction in operational forces.”
The Jewish high holiday season begins in mid-September with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.
