Israel Police prepared to hit the highest level of alert— essentially signifying a state of war - Thursday night, as preparations for Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's funeral continued in Cairo and Ramallah. Police said that at 6 a.m. Friday the force will go on Operation Alert Level D. Under the new alert level, all members of the Israel Police will be called up for active duty, including cadets and policemen currently on vacation. Police said that their biggest concern is that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who flock to mosques for prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan will begin to riot and may attempt to breach military checkpoints and enter Israel.
| I'd say that's not an unreasonable fear. |
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