Jerusalem went on high security alert ahead of President Bush’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Police in Jerusalem declared a “Gimmel” terrorist alert Tuesday, the second-highest level, to allow for Israeli security forces and American agents to intensify their scouring of the capital for potential threats.
Bush’s visit, which begins Wednesday, has stirred concern that he could be targeted in a Palestinian attack. Israel also fears attempts by right-wing Jewish activists to sabotage the visit in protest at the Olmert government’s policy – welcomed by Washington – of curbing West Bank settlement activity.
An Israeli lobby called “Jerusalem Above All” planned to organize a human chain around the Old City on Tuesday as part of a protest against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s proposal to cede Arab districts of the capital to the Palestinians under a peace deal.
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