IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon regrets the decision to abandon Joseph\'s Tomb in Shechem. In an interview published in today\'s edition of Ma\'ariv, Yaalon said that the pullback \"fired up the fighting spirit of the Palestinians… It will be a grave error if Israel continues to pull out of other areas or settlements under fire.\" It will be recalled that on Oct. 7, 2000, following several days of heavy Arab shooting on the soldiers guarding the holy site, and after one soldier was not rescued and died of his wounds during one of the battles, the army abandoned Joseph\'s Tomb in an early-morning retreat. The site, which only two decades ago was located well outside the built-up parts of the city of Shechem, is now surrounded by Arab houses.
Yaalon added that the Palestinians were disappointed to see that Israel\'s staying power was greater than they had thought: \"They expected that we would collapse in the face of the number of killed… If there is no other option, the IDF will have to consider re-entering Area A [under full Palestinian control],\" the Deputy Chief of Staff said.
Yaalon added that the Palestinians were disappointed to see that Israel\'s staying power was greater than they had thought: \"They expected that we would collapse in the face of the number of killed… If there is no other option, the IDF will have to consider re-entering Area A [under full Palestinian control],\" the Deputy Chief of Staff said.