Joseph's Tomb, Jewish Holy Site, Burned in West Bank Violence

Joseph's Tomb, a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, was reportedly set on fire by Palestinians as violence continued on Friday.

A revered site of a biblical figure and where Jews go to pray, the tomb was heavily damaged, according to BBC News. Judaism considers the site to be the resting place of Joseph, a high Israelite patriarch and son of Jacob, said CNN

The Jerusalem Post said there were no injuries and authorities were working to identify who started the fire. 

The attack was part of an increase in violence between Palestinians and Israelis after rumors that Israel wanted to increase Jewish rights in the area, something Israel denied.

According to BBC News, Joseph's Tomb is located in a compound in Nablus that transferred to Palestinian control in 1995 despite it being a popular place for Jewish pilgrims. They were allowed to visit the tomb at night, once a month, under military protection.

The tomb was ransacked and burned by rioters during a Palestinian uprising in October 2000.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of inciting violence that encouraged attacks on Israelis with knives and axes.

"Abu Mazen (Abbas) is inciting murder," said Netanyahu, adding that the international community was excusing Abbas's actions.

Abbas charged that Israelis killed 13-year-old Ahmed Manasra, who along with a 15-year-old cousin had stabbed a 13-year-old Israeli in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Israel, though, released photos of the boy at the Hadassah Medical Center.

"First of all he (Manasra) is not dead, he is alive," said Netanyahu. "Second, he is not innocent. He tried to kill, murder – knife to death an innocent Israel youngster, 13 years old, riding his bike."


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