- i24news
- Israel
- Archaeology
- Joseph's Tomb renovated after Palestinian vandalism
Joseph's Tomb renovated after Palestinian vandalism
Samaria Regional Council construction team repairs Jewish holy site damaged by Arab rioters
Under the protection of Israeli troops, renovations took place Wednesday morning on Joseph's Tomb near Nablus after the Jewish holy site was vandalized by Palestinians.
The Samaria Regional Brigade accompanied the Samaria Regional Council to the shrine, which was targeted by Arab rioters in recent days.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1514102536298504200
This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking .
The flashpoint also saw two Israeli Hasidic Jews shot and wounded overnight Sunday to Monday as they attempted to reach the compound.
The Hasidic Jews did not coordinate with the Israel Defense Forces, which usually oversees visits by Jewish worshippers.
In the predawn hours Wednesday, a building team assembled by the Samara Regional Council entered the tomb complex in the Palestinian Authority-controlled area of the West Bank.
It marks the first Israeli renovations to the site since it was abandoned following the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000.
The renovations included repairs to the stone grave marker, repainting the walls of the tomb complex, removal of debris left by the Arab rioters, and repairs to the complex's windows and water system.
After the construction team departed the compound upon completing the restoration work, clashes broke out, with the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service saying that 31 were wounded and the Palestinian Authority's health ministry later saying that one of them died from his wounds.
The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, called it a "historic day" that restores "the national honor of the State of Israel."
“We arrived here early this morning and are working to restore the honor of Joseph the Righteous and of the people of Israel," Dagan said. "The IDF and Israeli security forces have my full support and appreciation."