The traditional Passover Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing) was held at the Western Wall this morning, although only about 1,000 worshipers attended the service. It usually attracts five to ten times more. Israel\'s Chief Rabbis greeted the worshipers there afterwards. In Hevron, although the Jewish Community acceded to an army request to call off the semi-annual Hassidic music festival scheduled for today and tomorrow - an event that usually draws tens of thousands - thousands of people still arrived today to pray in Me\'arat HaMachpelah, open exclusively to Jews during these Intermediate Days of Passover.



A Ma\'ariv poll finds that 93% of Israelis are in favor of a major Israeli military offensive against the PA. As of this afternoon, 22,888 persons had voted in the poll with only 7% expressing opposition to the military action presently underway.



The Jerusalem Haggadah Festival is taking place in the Old City today, including workshops, local trips, puppet shows, musicians, and more... In the Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature Reserve, nature walks are being conducted on themes of spring based on Song of Songs... The first annual Jewish Theatre and Music Festival in Gush Etzion is being held today and tomorrow... Some events were canceled, such as the annual Latrun march and the Ecological Festival in Ein Prat near Jericho.