Palestinian rioters throw stones at Jewish worshipers visiting Joseph’s Tomb

Rachel Avraham

Around 60 Jewish worshipers who came to pray at Joseph’s Tomb had their bus attacked by Palestinian rioters who threw stones at them. The IDF managed to rescue them but a number of worshipers were injured and were treated in the area.

Photo Credit: Reuters/Channel 2 News

The IDF rushed last night to Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus after an Israeli bus that entered the area was attacked by Palestinian rioters. Stones were thrown at a bus full of 60 Jewish worshipers that were rescued from the place by the IDF shortly afterwards. A number of Israelis were injured due to the stone-throwing and were treated on site.

According to the biblical tradition, Joseph was buried in the biblical city of Shechem which is outside of Nablus. Therefore, Joseph’s Tomb is considered a Jewish shrine. The holy site is believed to be the place where 1 of 3 biblical transactions mentioned in the Torah took place. The other two are the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Even though the holy site is located in Area A of the West Bank, the Oslo Accords stated that Joseph’s Tomb is 1 of 2 areas in the Palestinian Authority that will remain under Israeli jurisdiction following the establishment of a Palestinian state. The other site is a 6th-7th century synagogue in Jericho with a mosaic depicting a shofar with the following inscription: “Peace unto Israel.”

The Times of Israel reported that the Oslo Accords required that the Palestinians protect the site and keep it open for Jewish worshippers, a promise that since 2000 has not been fulfilled from Israel’s perspective. There has been Palestinian attempts to convert the site into a mosque, widespread vandalism, disturbances, riots, and even cases of arson attacks at the holy site. Other Israeli citizens have been murdered while praying at Joseph’s Tomb.