Israel decided to further extend a general closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip for fear of attacks by Palestinian groups.
The announcement was made at the weekly cabinet meeting by the hawkish Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz who had initially ordered the closure to remain in force from March 11-15 during the course of the Purim Jewish festival.
It was initially prolonged until March 18 in the wake of the controversial storming of a West Bank prison and Israel's subsequent capture of six senior 'militant' inmates which the authorities feared would result in a violent backlash.
No new date for the lifting of the closure has been given. The measure will prevent thousands of Palestinians from entering Israel for work.