Jerusalem is preparing for a complex 24-hour period of prayers, marches, traffic congestion and a large police deployment around the Old City. Tisha B’Av events will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, 2026, beginning on the eve of the fast and continuing until the hours following its conclusion.
Most of the security preparations will focus on the Western Wall, the gates of the Old City and Jerusalem’s holy sites. Hundreds of Jerusalem District police officers, Border Police troops and volunteers will be deployed, together with uniformed and undercover forces, technological systems and special units. Their task will be to allow prayers and public events to proceed, maintain public order and respond quickly to any unusual incident.
Where will the Tisha B’Av march take place in Jerusalem?
On Wednesday evening, the “Women for Israel’s Future” march is scheduled to take place. The procession will begin at Independence Park and continue to the Dung Gate, near the Western Wall and the Old City.
Beginning at 8:30 p.m., streets will be closed and reopened according to the progress of the march. Roads expected to be affected include Gershon Agron Street, King Solomon Street, Paratroopers Road, Sultan Suleiman Street, Jericho Road, Ophel Road and Ma’ale HaShalom Road.
The closures may change in real time. Drivers planning to reach central Jerusalem or the Old City area should therefore expect delays and possible changes to their routes.
Which roads will be closed on Tisha B’Av?
On Thursday, during the sunrise prayer, Ophel Road and Ma’ale HaShalom Road will be closed to traffic between 4:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Ahead of the conclusion of the fast, intermittent closures are expected from 4:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on Sultan Suleiman Street, Jericho Road, Ophel Road and Ma’ale HaShalom Road.
Despite the closures, public transportation to the Western Wall is expected to operate as usual throughout Tisha B’Av. Drivers have been advised to use alternative routes and navigation applications, while taking into account that traffic arrangements may change according to congestion and police decisions on the ground.
How will police operate around the Western Wall and the Old City?
The Jerusalem District Police stated that the forces would operate “to safeguard public security, public order and freedom of worship,” with an increased deployment throughout the events.
Police called on participants to avoid violence, provocations and public disorder, and to follow officers’ instructions. Any unusual incident or concern regarding public safety should be reported immediately to the police emergency hotline.
