Palestinian-Israeli violence: Joseph’s Tomb site set ablaze

The ongoing wave of unrest in the middle-east points to the fact that this wave of violence comes in response to an on-going campaign to desecrate and destroy holy sites that anchor Jewish peoples to their faiths

A group of Palestinians set fire overnight to a compound housing Joseph’s Tomb — a religious site in the West Bank venerated by Jews — sparking condemnations from Palestinian and Israeli authorities.

The tomb appeared to be unharmed, but the fire marked another downturn in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after weeks of renewed violence, including the stabbings of Israeli civilians and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

Jews consider the site in Nablus the final resting place of Joseph, a high Israelite patriarch and son of Jacob who, according to biblical accounts, was sold into slavery as a boy but then rose to become a powerful figure in ancient Egypt, second only to the pharaoh.

Jewish devotees at times go to the tomb under Israel Defense Forces escort at night to pray. Christians also consider Joseph’s Tomb a holy site. It’s been targeted before — including in 2011 when vandals painted swastikas on its walls.

According to a Palestinian official, people went to the site early Friday to erect a barricade to thwart Israeli troops from demolishing homes, a key bone of contention in the Mideast. Israeli officials say tearing down homes of terrorists can deter future attacks, while Palestinians see the tactic as unfair collective punishment that hurts innocent women and children.

At some point, a group tried to set fire to Joseph’s Tomb, said the official, who did not want to be named.

But Palestinian security forces pushed out the crowd and managed to put out the fire.

Read also: Israeli PM urges talk over escalating violence in Jerusalem

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — whom Israeli officials have accused of not being vocal enough in condemning attacks on Israeli civilians — quickly spoke out about the torching of the religious site.

“These kinds of acts, or any other acts that violate the law and order … offend our culture, religion and morals,” Abbas said, according to WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency.

Abbas ordered a committee to investigate, WAFA reported.

But such a move may not placate some Israelis.

David Halvry, a spokesman for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to have Israeli troops “retake full responsibility for the holy place.”

IDF spokesman Peter Lerner promised action.

“The burning and desecration of Joseph’s Tomb … is a blatant violation and contradiction of the basic value of freedom of worship,” Lerner said. “The IDF will take all measures to bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice, restore the site to its previous condition and ensure that the freedom of worship returns to Joseph’s Tomb.”

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