- Title: JERUSALEM: ISRAEL INCREASES SECURITY AHEAD OF PASSOVER HOLIDAY
- Date: 7th April 2004
- Summary: (U4) JERUSALEM (APRIL 4, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. MV ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON ARRIVING FOR WEEKLY CABINET MEETING 0.07 2. MV FOREIGN MINISTER SILVAN SHALOM ARRIVING AT CABINET MEETING 0.15 3. MV DEFENCE MINISTER SHAUL MOFAZ ARRIVING AT CABINET MEETING 0.28 4. MV MEETING ZOOM IN SHARON AT MEETING, SAYING GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY H
- Embargoed: 22nd April 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JERUSALEM
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVADSQMUZ1XE297WOK67W1E7YI0S
- Story Text: Israel increases security in Jerusalem ahead of the
Passover holiday.
The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has met
with his cabinet for the last time before the Passover
holiday break.
Sharon sparked a controversy when he made an explicit
threat on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's life
In comments published on Friday (April 2, 2004), Sharon
called Arafat a poor insurance risk, an ominous phrase two
weeks after Israel assassinated the Hamas militant leader
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Israel was unrepentant despite the U.S. criticism
although Sharon, who will meet U.S. President George W.
Bush on April 14, has acknowledged he promised his main
ally not to harm Arafat.
Meanwhile Israel increased security in Jerusalem ahead
of the Passover holiday that starts on Monday night (April
5).
Police and army checked vehicles entering the city and
checked I.D.s of passers by.
Ultra orthodox Jews continued preparations for the
holiday by boiling kitchen dishes and utensils to make them
kosher for Passover.
According to Jewish tradition, it is forbidden to eat
anything containing flour during the seven days of the
holiday. Therefore they must get rid of all traces of flour
from their homes and dishes.
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