The army has imposed a total closure around the PA-controlled areas of Hevron, in light of intelligence warnings that terrorists may be on their way to an attack from there. On the other hand, the Jewish Community in the city is up in arms at a decision by the army to close the Machpelah Cave to all Jewish worship for five days during the upcoming Chanukah holiday, in honor of the end of the Moslem month of Ramadan. The Jews have asked the head of the Central Command to change the decision, and say they are determined to fight it.
This coming Saturday night, in honor of the weekly Torah portion in which we read of the Matriarch Rachel\'s burial in Bethlehem, Rachel\'s Tomb will be open to the public until midnight. Egged bus #163 will make the trip from the Jerusalem Bus Station to Kever Rachel every 30 minutes, beginning at 7 PM. In addition, shuttle buses will be available at the Gilo intersection, a few hundred meters from the holy site. \"Every person who comes is making the vital statement that Kever Rachel is ours forever!\" announce the organizers. The #163 bus runs twice daily, at 9AM and 1 PM, and shuttle buses from Gilo run between 9 and 12 each morning (on Fridays til 11).