Jewish worshippers discover Samaria site spray-painted with graffiti calling for martyrdom; Mesika calls act "barbaric."
By JPOST.COM STAFFJewish men pray joshua tomb 311(photo credit: AP)
Palestinians vandalized Joshua's Tomb in Samaria's Timnat Heres with Arabic graffiti overnight Thursday.Hundreds of Jewish worshippers, escorted by the IDF, arrived at the site which is located between Barak and Ariel, and discovered graffiti on surrounding walls which advocated martyrdom.RELATED:Palestinians: Settlers vandalize school near Nablus 'Palestinian olives stolen, groves vandalized' "We swear to remain loyal to the blood of martyrs," read the graffiti. "We are defenders of the national project," "No appeasement, speak to your enemy through shooting," and "Fatah was here" was also spray-painted on the walls."Only barbarians are capable of committing such harmful, threatening acts," head of the Samaria regional council Gershon Mesika said. "People who are capable of desecrating such a holy site in such a grave manner are not fit to be called civilized people." "If Jews were to desecrate a Muslim holy tomb in the same manner, the whole world would rage and erupt," Mesika added.Those visiting the site included Yeshiva heads, Rabbis, tourists and secular Israelis. The prayer was organized by the Samaria regional council and the "Shechem Ehad" organization.
