Maariv newspaper said Monday that the Israeli army ordered all units to cancel the long-customary Passover leaves and remain on full alert for angry protests and possible attacks during the holiday.
In view of the recent vehicular and stabbing attacks that occurred in the West Bank and Jerusalem and the growing tension with Hamas in Gaza the Israeli army commandership decided to cancel all Passover leaves given to its major military units including the air force navy and intelligence corps according to Maariv.
All military units were told that the decision in this regard was final and with no exceptions.
The newspaper said that the Israeli army ordered its units to gear up for a Palestinian “day of rage” or a mass March of Return on the first day of the Passover holiday.
As a popular protest event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are expected on March 30 to storm en masse areas near border fences separation walls and checkpoints and engage in skirmishes with soldiers.
The Israeli military and security units for their part are expected to use deadly force against the Palestinian protesters on that day.
