Israel seals off occupied West Bank

Israel is expected to deploy additional troops at the al-Aqsa mosque [File: AFP] Israel has ordered its security forces to close parts of the West Bank in the occupied Palestinian territory for 48 hours. Ehud Barak, the defence minister, made the move on Friday amid reports about the possibility of fresh protests by Palestinians around the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem after Friday prayers. The closures of Judea and Samaria regions of the occupied West Bank are to be lifted at midnight on Saturday. Authorities in Jerusalem are expected to deploy additional forces at the al-Aqsa mosque in view of the anticipated protests. The compound, which is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, has been the site of a number of violent incidents. Controversial decision Clashes erupted last week after Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, announced plans to include two sites in the occupied West Bank on a list of Israeli heritage sites. Skirmishes also broke out after Friday prayers in the West Bank city of Hebron, but no serious injuries were reported. Israel annexed east Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war and built new quarters to house more than 200,000 Israelis. The annexation has never been recognised by the international community. Palestinians denounce settlements in east Jerusalem, which they want to make the capital of their future state. In early February, the daily Haaretz revealed Israeli authorities had given the green light to a project to build 600 homes in an area set aside for settlement in the eastern sector.