Two more groups of Jews succeeded in reaching Joseph\'s Tomb last night - one of them a group of women and babies, and the other comprised of Breslover Hassidim. They later reported that the IDF locked the front gate to the holy site, and so they hopped over the wall. Almost all of them were taken for questioning by police and army agents.
Rabbi Menachem Porush, a leading and long-time figure in Israel\'s Agudat Yisrael, has joined the chorus of those calling on the government to allow Jewish presence at Joseph\'s Tomb. The Yesha Council, too, called on Prime Minister Sharon to retain the holy site. The Council added, however, that individuals should not endanger themselves by trying to reach the site on their own. Emotions are running high over the issue, particularly in light of what many call Israel\'s \"shameful\" retreat from Joseph\'s Tomb - accompanied by the fatal abandonment of IDF soldier Madhat Yusuf - at the beginning of the current warfare.
Rabbi Menachem Porush, a leading and long-time figure in Israel\'s Agudat Yisrael, has joined the chorus of those calling on the government to allow Jewish presence at Joseph\'s Tomb. The Yesha Council, too, called on Prime Minister Sharon to retain the holy site. The Council added, however, that individuals should not endanger themselves by trying to reach the site on their own. Emotions are running high over the issue, particularly in light of what many call Israel\'s \"shameful\" retreat from Joseph\'s Tomb - accompanied by the fatal abandonment of IDF soldier Madhat Yusuf - at the beginning of the current warfare.