UPDATE: Israel shuts down several military checkpoints, obstructs movement of residents in the West Bank

RAMALLAH: The Israeli occupation forces tightened their military measures on Wednesday at most of the entrances and exits of the governorates in the West Bank. Local sources said that the occupation tightened its measures around Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron, Jericho and Tubas, as the occupation closed the Ein Siniya and Atara checkpoints, and continued to close the northern entrance to the city of Al-Bireh. Meanwhile, the vicinity of the city of Jerusalem has been witnessing traffic jam after the occupation soldiers at the Jabaa checkpoint north of Jerusalem stopped and searched long line of vehicles. The occupation soldiers also closed the Hamra checkpoint east of Nablus in both directions connecting Nablus, Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The sources affirmed that the occupation forces closed the areas of Ras Al-Joura, Sadat Al-Fahs and Al-Nashash in the Hebron governorate, while the northern entrance to Jericho remains closed. The Al-Murabba'a and Awarta checkpoints around the city of N ablus also witnessed a stifling traffic jam caused by the occupation soldiers' inspection of vehicles. The occupation forces closed the Tayasir checkpoint east of Tubas city to the movement of citizens in both directions, and prevented vehicles from reaching their workplaces in the northern Jordan Valley. The Director of Education, Azmi Balawneh, said that about 130 teachers were unable to reach the schools in the northern Jordan Valley, and about 800 male and female students, some of whom are from distant camps, did not attend schools because the education buses did not arrive to transport them to schools due to the occupation's measures. The occupation forces also closed the Atouf Gate southeast of Tubas to the movement of farmers. The occupation forces continued to close the Anab military checkpoint east of Tulkarm for the fourth consecutive day. Local sources told WAFA that the occupation forces closed the checkpoint through its iron gates, and prevented the movement of vehicles, especially since thi s checkpoint is used by vehicles coming from the West Bank governorates to reach or exit Tulkarm, forcing drivers to take dirt roads that take long hours. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA