On the national day of mourning on Sunday a large group of Jews ascended to the tomb of the Biblical matriarch Rachel, located on the outskirts of Bethlehem, and vowed never to abandon the holy place. The gathering was both prayer and protest, as former and current MKs and the National Union party's youth movement took part in the event with calls for a greater and more secure Jewish presence at the tomb.
Members of the youth movements of the National Union party, Ezra, B'nei Akiva and Orot joined for special prayers on the fast of Tisha B'Av at the Tomb of Rachel. It is especially on this fast, explained the organizers, that we should pray that our Mother Rachel need not cry anymore as her children will return to their land - all of the land of Israel.
The event began with a ceremony and speeches at the Gilo Junction, just a few hundred yards from Bethlehem.
Rabbi Chanan Porat, one of the organizers of the event and a former Knesset Member, told the assembled young people, "Bethlehem, the Tomb of the Patriarchs [in Hevron] and my house in Gush Etzion are not occupied, but liberated. Forty one years have passed and the consolation of Rachel our mother, whom we have to thank, is mixed with tears because Rachel, our mother, cannot accept the current situation." Porat was an MK from 1981-1999 representing Techiya and the National Religious Party, eventually breaking from the latter and forming Tekuma, a faction in the National Union party.
Also addressing the gathering was Rabbi Menachem Porush, a former Agudat Yisrael MK. "When I came to Rachel's Tomb, I had the feeling I was in a foreign country. Gentlemen, we must yell and say, 'Rachel is mourning for her sons. She refuses to be consoled and we also cannot be consoled while the tomb of Rachel is outside Jewish control.' " The elderly and wheelchair-bound Porush served as an MK from 1959-1994.
Rabbi Porush's son, current United Torah Judaism MK Rabbi Meir Porush, said at the Gilo Junction, "Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz, the head of the Mir Yeshiva, used to say that his prayer in Rachel's Tomb was, 'Even though the prophet says to stop your tears, I am begging you, mother, don't stop your crying; your sons are still in exile, we are still suffering.' " As former Deputy Housing Minister, the younger Porush was responsible for much construction in various areas of Judea and Samaria.
Following the speeches at the Gilo Junction, the group set out on a march towards the tomb. However, police informed the organizers that they could not approve a march from the IDF checkpoint outside the area of the tomb to the site itself. The police explained that there were security restrictions in place 
Rachel's Tomb has been a target for Palestinian Authority terrorists operating in the Bethlehem region.
forbidding the passage of private cars and pedestrians into the site, although the tomb is only 300 meters from the blockade.
Observing the massive security barriers and pillbox positions around Rachel's Tomb, Rabbi Porat called the measures "a large amount of cement poured on the site for no reason. We must," he stated, "bring back free access to the holy site."
Since 1997, Rachel's Tomb has been a target for Palestinian Authority terrorists operating in the Bethlehem region, who know that Jewish worshipers have made great efforts to pray at the site. As a result of the repeated PA attacks which have included sniping, firebombs and rock throwing - visitors can only get to the heavily fortified site in armored vehicles and under heavy IDF protection.
Adiyel Yom-Tov, a National Union youth movement leader, said of the situation at Rachel's Tomb, "Jews should travel to Rachel's Tomb like they travel to the Machpela Cave [in Hevron] and the Western Wall [of the Temple in Jerusalem]. We made a march today towards the tomb until the policemen stopped us. We came here to say that we will do everything to gain free access to our mother Rachel."