Palestinians clash with IDF forces as Jewish worshipers visit Joseph’s Tomb
Hundreds of worshipers arrive on last intermediate day of Passover to visit what is said to be the burial spot of the Jewish patriarch.
By JPOST.COM STAFF, JTAPalestinian protesters pick up stones to throw at Israeli troops during clashes near Nablus(photo credit: REUTERS)
A group of Palestinians in Nablus clashed overnight between Wednesday and Thursday with IDF forces securing the area for Jewish visitors to Joseph's Tomb in the West Bank city.Hundreds of worshipers arrived in more than a dozen buses to visit what is said to be the burial spot of the Jewish patriarch.According to Palestinian news agency Ma'an, Palestinian youth near the holy site hurled stones and bottles at the Israeli security forces, who responded by firing tear gas and stun grenades.No injuries were reported in the incident.The visit came on the final intermediate day of Passover.Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, 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 worshipers, 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.
