Arab Mob Tries to Burn Down Kever Yosef Site

Rioting Arabs on Motzoei Shabbos tried to set fire to Kever Yosef, but were held back by Palestinian Authority police. The riots erupted earlier Motzoei Shabbos when rumors began spreading that an Arab who had been shot several days ago by IDF troops after he tried to attack them had died of his wounds. The incident occurred on Thursday night, as some 4,000 Jews gathered to daven at the site.

The Palestinian Authority denied that the 20-year-old Arab had died, but the rumor spread throughout Shechem Motzoei Shabbos. PA police held off the mob and eventually dispersed it.

Arabs have vandalized and set fire to Kever Yosef numerous times since the signing of the Oslo Accords, most notably in 2000, 2003, 2008 and 2014. Between 2003 and 2009, the site remained desolate, until Israel and the PA reached an accord on refurbishing the site in 2010. Currently, Jews are allowed to visit Kever Yosef once a month – on Erev Rosh Chodesh – to daven.

Also Motzoei Shabbos, security officials said that an Israeli vehicle traveling near the town of Migdalim in Shomron was shot at. There were no injuries in the incident. Soldiers were searching for the shooters.