Security Stepped Up for Holiday

For many Israelis, the long holiday weekend that begins with Rosh Hashanah at sundown Wednesday will be a time of prayerful contemplation.

For many others, it will be an end-of-summer vacation to spend at the beaches, pools, parks and other recreation sites.

But there are no such options for the thousands of regular and border policemen, Israel Defense Force soldiers and civil defense officials.

They and thousands of extra personnel called to duty will have the responsibility of protecting Israelis civilians whether they spend the holiday praying or sunbathing.

All holiday seasons, and especially the High Holidays, when synagogues, parks and beaches are unusually crowded, are a temptation to terrorists. Security forces are put on high alert.

Another place of potential carnage is the highways. The roads will be packed with motorists over the next three days, and authorities can only hope that injuries will be kept to the minimum.