About 150 Jews gathered Thursday evening at the junction at the entrance to the biblical city of Shechem in Samaria and marched 200 meters into the city. They blocked the entrance to the city for about three hours and declared their intention to return to the Tomb of Joseph.
In the course of the demonstration, MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) said that “the shameful abandonment of the Tomb of Joseph cannot continue. Netanyahu the non-leader is trying to weaken the spirit of settlement, but thanks to the young spirit of the settlers and the youth, he will not succeed.”
Benny Katzover, chairman of the grassroots Settlers' Council of Samaria, said that the current situation is unbearable. “I am grateful for the awakening in the public, which is demanding to change the situation. I, too, am mobilized for this issue,” said the veteran settler leader.
A spokesman for the Shechem Group said that in the coming months there will be numerous, varied actions aimed at realizing the goal of returning to Shechem. “We will not rest for a moment and if need be we will take concrete action in order to return to the place.”
The tomb was abandoned by Israel in September 2000 when a mob of armed Arabs attacked it. The IDF retreated, leaving a soldier, 2nd Sgt. Madhat Yousef, to bleed to death inside the compound. The tomb was desecrated and defiled by marauding Arabs. It was later partially restored and in the past year Jews have visited the tomb about once a month, but only during the night and under IDF guard.