Suspected arson reported at the tomb of Prophet Samuel
Several fires are burning at different points in the forest, and worshipers have been instructed to evacuate the area due to the danger.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFThe Tomb of Samuel of the northern edge of Jerusalem(photo credit: YUVAL DAX)
Police are investigating a possible arson attack in a forest north of Jerusalem near the burial place of the Biblical prophet Samuel, according to the Judea and Samaria Fire Department.Several fires are burning at different points in the forest, and worshipers have been instructed to evacuate the area due to the danger.The fire was extinguished on Thursday evening and there were no known casualties.The investigation into the cause of the fires is ongoing.The tomb of Samuel, known as Kever Shmuel in Hebrew and Nebi Samiwel in Arabic, is a contested area located in the Israeli section of Area C, close to Givat Ze'ev. The building houses both an ultra-Orthodox study room and prayer hall below ground-level, close to the tomb itself, and the upper floor of the building is used as a mosque and frequented by Muslim worshipers. The area surrounding the tomb is now a designated national park, although an estimated 20 Palestinian families still live on a nearby hilltop.
