Thousands Pray at Joseph's Tomb in Hebron Amid Calls for Permanent Israeli Presence

Thousands of worshippers entered Joseph's Tomb in Hebron overnight under secured conditions, accompanied by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and volunteers from the Samaria Regional Council's Joseph's Tomb and Holy Sites Administration. The event included prominent figures such as Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Samaria Chief Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot, Rabbi Yossi Elitzur of the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva, IDF West Bank Division commander Brigadier General Kobi Heller, Border Police West Bank commander Deputy Commissioner Nisso Guetta, and Samaria Brigade commander Colonel D.

Rabbi Elyakim Levanon emphasized the long-awaited redemption of Joseph the Righteous and expressed hope for unrestricted access to the site around the clock, calling Joseph's redemption symbolic of the redemption of the entire Jewish people. Rabbi Yossi Elitzur urged the Israeli government to establish a permanent presence at the tomb, stating, "We call on the government of Israel to decide and establish a constant presence here at Joseph's Tomb."

Yossi Dagan linked the visit to the current security challenges in Judea and Samaria, including ongoing terrorism and the 21st anniversary of the evacuation of Gush Katif and northern Samaria. He criticized the government's decision to withdraw from the site on October 7, 2000, calling it an absurd situation that left the tomb outside Israeli control. Dagan called for the IDF and Israeli settlers to return to the site and for the Israeli flag to be raised again, framing Joseph's Tomb as a starting point for national restoration.

Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot condemned the abandonment of one of the Jewish people's holiest sites to Palestinian Authority militants and demanded a full Israeli return to the tomb to rectify this injustice.