JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Terrorists opened fire early Thursday morning at hundreds of people who had come to worship at the tomb of Yosef in Shechem. IDF soldiers returned fire. There were no injuries to the worshipers or IDF soldiers but security forces decided to evacuate all the worshipers from the compound of Yosef’s tomb.
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Despite significant successes by the IDF in Shechem in recent weeks, eliminating a number of prominent terrorists, the terror activities continue unabated in the town. Hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and rioted near the tomb and IDF soldiers responded with crowd dispersal tactics and rubber bullets. Palestinians reported one dead, a 19-year-old boy from the Balata refugee camp, and tens wounded, some of them in critical condition.
The IDF said in a statement that troops from the army and Border Police were securing a coordinated pilgrimage, and had returned fire at Palestinian terrorists.
The shooting broke out as the convoy of Jewish worshippers and IDF soldiers entered the city for a monthly visit to the tomb. The previous month had also seen gun battles near the tomb, with three people injured including regional commander Ro’i Zweig
On this occasion,an armored bus carrying worshipers was hit by stones and gunfire but there were no injuries reported. MK Ofir Sofer, who also visited the tomb, said that “in the wake of the previous attacks, I came tonight together with hundreds of worshipers to make a clear statement that the tomb of Yosef is ours forever and terror will not deter us. Those who don’t want us here don’t want us in the Galilee, Negev and coastal region. Only a determined struggle for our rights in this country will lead to a situation where Jews can pray openly and safely at Yosef’s tomb.”
The tomb was never formally given to the Palestinian Authority: Internationally recognized agreements acknowledge Jewish Sovereignty over (not just the right to visit) the Kever Yosef, with a permanent armed presence there. At the beginning of the 2nd Intifada, an Israeli Border guard (named Yusef) was shot by terrorists, and left to bleed to death there, as the IDF abandoned the site. After it was recovered in the IDF “Protective Wall” operation, 20 years ago, the IDF turned the site over to the PA again, about 11 years ago, after Religious Zionists rebuilt the Synagogue.
An open miracle! BH!
It’s a dangerous place don’t go go there!