Thousands of Jews Pray at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem Under Expanded Access
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Jews prayed at Joseph's Tomb in Shechem on October 1st.
- Daytime access to the holy site was expanded for the first time.
- Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the extended visiting hours.
- Israeli security forces escorted pilgrims and detained local residents.
- Previous visits have been marked by vandalism and clashes.
On October 1st, thousands of Jewish pilgrims visited the Tomb of Joseph in Shechem (Nablus) for morning prayers, coinciding with the Day of Remembrance for the Righteous Joseph. For the first time, access to the holy site was permitted during daylight hours, a change resulting from a decision by Defense Minister Israel Katz to extend visiting times. The Samaria Regional Council, Knesset members, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the Border Police collaborated to organize and secure the event.
During the security operation, several local residents were detained. Access to Joseph's Tomb traditionally requires prior military approval, with pilgrims typically transported via organized bus convoys under military escort through Palestinian territories. The previous large-scale Jewish pilgrimage to the site occurred on August 27th.
In recent years, visits to the tomb have been marred by incidents, including unauthorized entries by Israelis, vandalism, and clashes, leading to restoration efforts involving both Israeli and Palestinian parties. Authorities expressed gratitude to the security forces for their role in escorting the thousands of pilgrims during the morning visit.
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