JERUSALEM. The biblical Book of Exodus relates that when the Israelites left Egypt after hundreds of years of slavery, they took with them the bones of their ancestor Joseph, who before dying had expressed a desire to be buried in the Land of Israel. On the eve of Pesach, the Passover commemorating the Exit from Egypt, the site where according to tradition Joseph was buried was vandalized in the night by hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators, on days that continue to be characterized by strong tensions. during Ramadan, the holy month of Islam.
Joseph’s tomb is located near Nablus (Shechem according to the Bible) in Area A, which is the part of the Territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which Israelis are forbidden to visit without special authorization. Over the years, the place, considered sacred not only by Jews but also by Christians and Muslims, has repeatedly found itself in the eye of the storm. Jewish pilgrims have often tried to go there illegally, Palestinian residents have attacked and damaged it several times. Currently the Israeli army in concert with the Palestinian Authority organizes a special convoy every month to allow those who wish to go and pray to do so, usually in the middle of the night.
“The vandalism against Joseph’s tomb represents a serious incident and a serious violation of freedom of worship in one of the holiest places for every Jew,” said Defense Minister Benny Gantz, after demonstrators broke the slab on Saturday night. of stone that closed the tomb and attempted to set fire to the structure.
“The State of Israel will take the necessary steps to ensure that the site is quickly restored and restored to its original condition,” Gantz added, also noting that he had asked the Palestinian Authority to increase the level of protection of the tomb.
The attack comes during the second consecutive night of military operations by the Israeli army in the West Bank, following a series of attacks that have plunged the country back into the nightmare of terrorism, causing 14 deaths and numerous injuries.
If the first two attacks on Beersheva and Hadera were carried out by Israeli citizens affiliated with Isis (a Bedouin in the first case and two Arab-Israelis in the second), in the subsequent two attacks it was two young Palestinians who opened fire.
On Saturday, Israeli security forces entered the Jenin refugee camp from which the terrorist who killed three young people in a bar on Dizengoff Street in the heart of Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Other raids were carried out in various parts of the West Bank, including the village of Yabad, where the bomber lived who killed five people in Bnei Brak on 30 March. During the clashes between the army and the Palestinians, which led to about twenty arrests, a militiaman was killed. In a separate incident on Sunday, soldiers also killed a Palestinian woman who the military said had exhibited suspicious behavior at a checkpoint but was later revealed to be unarmed.
“We are continuing to arrest those involved in terrorist attacks and targeting terrorists,” said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, opening the meeting of the Cabinet and also referring to the destruction of the Tomb of Joseph.
“We will deal with the reconstruction of what has been destroyed, as we always do”.