'Shocking': Palestinian Rioters Vandalize Joseph's Tomb Amid Heightened Tensions

Emily Jones
04-11-2022

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JERUSALEM, Israel – Palestinian rioters vandalized Joseph’s Tomb on Saturday during clashes with Israeli troops near the West Bank city of Nablus. 

“Dozens of Palestinian rioters in a frenzy of destruction simply vandalized a holy place for us, the Jews,” said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. 

“They shattered the headstone over the tomb and set fire to rooms in the complex; I have seen the shocking pictures.”

“We will not tolerate such an attack on a place that is holy for us, on the eve of Passover, and will reach the rioters. Of course, we will see to the rebuilding of what has been destroyed, just as we always do,” he added. 

Images circulating online show damage to the religious shrine, which is revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Some Jews believe Joseph is buried in the tomb, while Muslims believe the body of a sheikh lies there.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz called the vandalism “a grave event and a serious violation of freedom of worship in one of the holiest places for every Jew.”

Gantz said Israel would restore the shrine. He also called on the Palestinian Authority to protect the site and take “decisive action against rioters and terrorists that harm stability and security in holy places.”

The shrine is located in Area A of the West Bank – biblical Judea and Samaria – which is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. 

The vandalism comes amid a deadly wave of Palestinian terror during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. During the vandalism, Israeli troops were carrying out arrest raids following a terror attack in Tel Aviv that killed three people.

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About The Author

Emily
Jones

Emily Jones is a multi-media journalist for CBN News in Jerusalem. Before she moved to the Middle East in 2019, she spent years regularly traveling to the region to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meet with government officials, and raise awareness about Christian persecution. During her college years, Emily served as president of Regent University's Christians United for Israel chapter and spoke alongside world leaders at numerous conferences and events. She is an active member of the Philos Project, an organization that seeks to promote positive Christian engagement with the Middle
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