The IDF has been escorting nightly visits of Jewish worshippers to Joseph's Tomb near Shechem, according to the French news service AFP. The French chief rabbi recently visited Israel and expressed outrage at the Arab desecration of the tomb, where he prayed. He said at the time he would protest to the French government. Under the terms of previous agreements with the Palestinian Authority (PA), the holy site is to be retained for Jewish prayer, but Arab terrorists have attacked and killed some visitors to the site and have destroyed holy articles.

AFP reported that armored buses packed with Jews, both men and women, are escorted by soldiers and make a nightly trip. It quoted Benjamin Makhleb of Jerusalem, a member of the Breslov Chassidic sect, "This is a path of devotion for the Almighty. I have gone this way dozens of times and will continue doing it."

Another worshipper, Nathan Azur, stated, that "this is the cradle of our existence as a Jewish people. Joseph's Tomb is part of every Jew and it is shameful to see us having to sneak in here like thieves in the night."