Israel locks out Palestinians during Jewish holidays

Troops sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip today, imposing a virtual blanket ban on Palestinians entering Israel until the end of the Jewish holiday season next month, due to fears of terror attacks.

Defence ministry officials said the ban, which was due to begin at 6am local time (4am Irish time), was expected to last through the Jewish New Year, which starts on Wednesday, and continue to Yom Kippur 10 days later and the week-long Sukkot festival, which begins on September 29.