Palestinian security coordination detains settlers at Joseph's tomb

Source :maannews

NABLUS -- Dozens Israeli settlers attempted to reach Joseph's Tomb in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus overnight Saturday, before being escorted by Palestinian security forces who handed the settlers off to Israeli police, an Israeli army spokesperson said.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that Israeli forcesreceivedreports overnight Saturday that Israelis had "illegallyentered Nablus," and were heading toward Joseph's Tomb.

The spokesperson said Israeli forces coordinated with Palestinian police, who responded and escorted the settlers out of the area before handing the settlers over to Israeli police forces.

Palestinians in the area threw rocks and firebombs at the settlers before they were detained in an attempt to stop them from entering the site, locals said.

Locals added that many settlers were injured, and some of their cars were set on fire.

Israeli media reported that Israeli forces detained five Israeli settlers, and that the rest escaped on their own.

The Israeli settlers claimed to Israeli media that they were assaulted by Palestinian security forces after Palestinians threw stones at them.

Joseph's Tomb is revered by Jews, Muslims, Christians and Samaritans.

On Friday Palestinian youths set fire to the tomb after throwing Molotov cocktails at the holy site.

Palestinian Authority police and fire brigades arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames. PA security forces said they would open an investigation into the incident.

The perpetrators reportedly broke into the holy site before setting it on fire.

President Mahmoud Abbas called the arson attack "irresponsible," and said the actions of the perpetrators were an abuse of the culture, religion and ethics of Palestinians.

He ordered the immediate repair of the site, and said an investigation will be launched into the incident.

The tomb is the site of monthly visits by Israelis, who are escorted by Israeli military forces to the area, often leading to clashes with local Palestinians.

Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the site was to remain under Israeli control. But the Israeli army evacuated the premises in October 2000 shortly after the start of the Second Intifada, and it was immediately damaged and burnt by Palestinians.

Following security cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli army allows Jewish worshipers to make monthly nocturnal pilgrimages to the site.

(MaanImages)

(MaanImages)