Palestinians Riot as Busloads of Jewish Worshippers Visit Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus
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JERUSALEM — Palestinians in Nablus attacked Israeli soldiers escorting a convoy of Jewish worshippers who entered the West Bank city to visit Joseph’s Tomb.
The 26 busloads of worshippers arrived overnight Wednesday into Thursday in order to visit the purported burial place of the Jewish patriarch. The site is holy to Muslims, Christians and Jews.
The soldiers were attacked with rocks and burning tires, according to reports. There were no injuries reported to the soldiers, who responded to the rioting with tear gas and stun grenades, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported. Maan said no injuries were reported among the Palestinians.
The visit came on the final intermediate day of Passover.
Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, which Israeli leaders have since disavowed, the site was to remain under Israeli control. The Israeli army evacuated the premises in October 2000 during the second intifada and it was burnt down by Palestinians.
Jewish worshippers, in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces, make monthly nocturnal pilgrimages to the site, which was renovated and restored. It was torched and vandalized in October 2015.
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