“During the night, the Palestinians destroyed Joseph’s tomb. “Dozens of Palestinian riots in a campaign of destruction have simply violated a sanctuary for us Jews,” Bennett said at the start of the cabinet meeting. “They broke the tombstone in the grave, set fire to rooms in the complex – I saw the photos and I was shocked,” he said. “We will not tolerate such an attack in a place that is sacred to us – on Easter Eve – and we will reach the rioters,” he said. “And of course we will make sure to rebuild what they destroyed, as we always do.” About 100 Palestinians stormed the site overnight and smashed objects inside, the Israeli Defense Forces said. Get the Times of Israel Daily E-mail and never miss our top stories By registering, you agree to the terms Signs of burning are also seen in photos from the scene as the rioters apparently tried to set fire to the sanctuary. Joseph’s Tomb, Destroyed by Troublemakers, April 10, 2022 (Courtesy) The riots erupted amid clashes between Palestinian militants and IDF troops in the nearby Balata refugee camp in the Jenin region. The IDF has confirmed that special forces – including troops from the selected Shayetet 13 naval unit – have carried out weapons searches in the area and arrested eight Palestinian suspected terrorists. Footage showed dozens of Palestinians entering the area and smashing objects inside. The tomb is worshiped by Jews, Christians and Muslims and has often been a hotbed of violence. #Watch the start of an angry march in the Balata camp in #Nablus, towards Joseph’s grave, in support of #Jenin. pic.twitter.com/4Ypi9meih7 – Newpress | New Press (@NewpressPs) April 9, 2022 Earlier, Defense Minister Benny Ganz said the vandalism was a “serious incident” and said he had sent a “strong message” to the Palestinian Authority about the attack on the shrine. “The vandalism of Joseph’s tomb is a serious incident and a serious violation of the freedom of worship in one of the holiest places for any Jew. “It violates the feelings of the entire Jewish nation, especially when it happens during the Muslim holy month,” Gandz said in a statement released in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Gantz said Israel would work quickly to “ensure that the site is renovated and quickly restored to its original condition.” The minister added that “all necessary measures” will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an attack. Gantz concluded by saying that he had told the Palestinian Authority that it needed to increase security and take action against the rioters. “This morning, I sent a strong message to the Palestinian Authority, calling for the immediate reinforcement of its local officials and for decisive action against rioters and terrorists who undermine stability and security in the holy sites,” Gandz said. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, in a statement, expressed regret over the attack while urging calm. “Attacking holy places is an attack on the heart of a people. The Palestinians who deserted Joseph’s Tomb seek to sow destruction and ruin during a holy feast. “This is a serious damage not only to the tomb itself, but also to the deep feelings of the Jewish people,” Lapid wrote on Twitter. “We will bring the perpetrators to justice and repair Joseph’s tomb. I call on everyone to promote calm and quiet “. Benny Gantz (right) and Yair Lapid in the Knesset on November 18, 2019. (Hadas Parush / Flash90) The tomb of Joseph, worshiped in connection with the biblical Joseph, is located in Area A of the West Bank, which is officially under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, although the Israeli army is active there. The IDF prohibits Israeli citizens from entering Area A without prior permission. Jewish pilgrims are usually allowed to visit the tomb only once a month under a heavily armed guard. During these visits, Palestinians regularly throw stones at troops and sometimes attack them with Molotov cocktails and shots. The sanctuary has also been set on fire in the past. The overnight attack took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – often a time of intense tension in Israel and the West Bank. Israel has seen four deadly terrorist attacks in recent weeks and has stepped up security measures in response, as well as carrying out a series of raids in the West Bank. We tell a critical story Israel is now a much more important player on the world stage than its size suggests. As a Diplomatic Correspondent for the Times of Israel, I am well aware that Israel’s security, strategy and national interests are always under scrutiny and have serious implications. It takes balance, determination and knowledge to accurately convey the history of Israel, and I come to work every day with the goal of doing it to the fullest. Financial support from readers like you allows me to travel to watch the war (I just returned from reporting on Ukraine) and sign historic agreements. 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