Jerusalem, 10 April, 2022 (TPS) — A group of some 100 Muslim rioters attacked Yosef’s Tomb in Shechem (Nablus) on Saturday night and caused massive damage to the building, a Jewish site of prayer.

After throwing rocks at the complex, the rioters set fire to the building, broke the grave marker, and destroyed property. The Palestinian Authority’s police subsequently turned the rioters away.

When Jewish worshippers enter the site, they are routinely attacked by Arab rioters. The entry into Shechem, under Palestinian Authority (PA) control, occurs several times a year, usually around Jewish holidays. The prayers take place only during the night and under heavy security provided by the Israeli forces.

Minister of Defense Benny Gantz issued a statement on Sunday in Hebrew, Arabic, and English in which he said that “the vandalism of Yosef’s Tomb is a grave event and a serious violation of freedom of worship in one of the holiest places for every Jew. It violates the feelings of the entire Jewish nation, especially when it occurs during the Muslim holy month.”

“Israel will take action to ensure that the site is refurbished and quickly returned to its original condition. In addition, we will take all the measures necessary to prevent such incidents,” he declared.

He said he “delivered a strong message to the Palestinian Authority, demanding the immediate reinforcement of their officials on-site, and decisive action against rioters and terrorists that harm stability and security in holy places.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid stated that “attacking holy sites is attacking the heart of a people. The damage done to Yosef’s Tomb during a holy festival is shocking. This is serious damage not only to the tomb itself, but to the deeply-held feelings of the Jewish people. We will bring the perpetrators to justice and repair Joseph’s Tomb. I call on everyone to promote calm and quiet.”

The Yesha Council stated that the destruction of Yosef’s Tomb “is another crossing of a red line that indicates a low level of Arab violence and the loss of deterrence on their part”.

“We are appalled by the incident and demand strong condemnation from all political parties. The IDF must return to the site of Yosef’s Tomb and preserve the holy place,” the organization stated.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said that the vandalism is an incident “that shocks every Jew. Destruction of one of the holy places for the Jewish people, just before Passover, the holiday of freedom, happened only because the State of Israel abandoned one of the holy places for the Jewish people ‘for the preservation of the criminal Palestinian Authority.”

He demanded “the immediate return of the IDF to the Yosef’s Tomb. The people of Israel in their sovereign state must maintain their sanctities.”

“Once again the barbarians from the Palestinian Authority are showing their true face: ISIS,” he added.