.jpg)
Israel’s minister for information and Diaspora affairs, Yuli Edelstein, has called for a permanent Israeli presence at the tomb of Jewish patriarch Joseph, near the West Bank city of Nablus, to allow Jewish pilgrims unhindered access. Experience showed that “holy sites that are under Israeli control have free access and are safe for all” whereas access to sites under control by the Palestinian Authority, including Joseph’s tomb, was often difficult or impossible, the Likud minister was quoted as saying by the Israeli news site ‘Arutz Sheva’.
Edelstein (pictured above at the tomb, second from right) reportedly added: “I believe we need to return to total control of the site, and many in the government believe so as well.” On Wednesday, around 2,000 Jewish Israelis including the minister visited the tomb site and held prayers. The visit was arranged with the backing the IDF.
Joseph’s Tomb, which was desecrated 11 years ago and restored last year, is located the outskirts of the West Bank city of Nablus, near the site of biblical Shechem. The tomb has been venerated throughout the ages by Jews, as well as by Christians and Muslims.
In April 2011, Palestinian Authority police officers opened fire on three cars of Israeli worshipers after they finished praying at Joseph's Tomb. An Israeli citizen, the nephew of Culture Minister Limor Livnat, was killed and three others were wounded in the incident.
