Hundreds of Jewish worshipers who arrived at Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus overnight were stunned to find the compound severely vandalized – yet again.
Israel pulled its forces out of the compound in October 2000. The IDF disallowed Jewish worshippers from entering it for a long period of time due to security concerns; and deserted, it has been burnt down and defaced many times.
December of 2008 saw Joseph Tomb’s restored and the military began allowing worshippers to visit it once more, but always at night and under heavy military guard, for their own safety.
Wednesday night’s visit was approved by the proper military authorities and the IDF provided the worshippers with an escort.
The group which entered the compound was made up of some 500 people. Upon entering the tomb they found it had been defaced – the headstone smashed and swastikas sprayed on the walls, as well as graffiti of a blood-dripping sward over a Star of David, and another “trampled” by a boot.
Some reported seeing visible boot prints all over the compounds, which they claim are consistent with the Palestinian police standard issue boots.
