CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) imposed a closure on Palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), which went into effect Sunday evening at midnight, ahead of the Purim holiday.

The holiday, observed for two days in Jerusalem, begins Monday evening.

"The IDF regards the Purim holiday as a highly sensitive period in terms of the security risk," a statement read.

The closure will be lifted Wednesday evening at the end of the holiday.

Meanwhile, the IDF also raised the alert for potential kidnapping by Arab terror groups, following a botched attempt last week near the Jerusalem Mall to kidnap an air force officer.

IDF commanders were told to remind their charges that hitchhiking is forbidden and warn that undercover military police may offer soldiers at hitchhiking posts a ride.

Any soldier who accepts will face a military trial within 72 hours and probable jail time.

Source: YNet news