Palestinian Authority Arabs set fire to Kever Yosef near Shechem Sunday morning several hours after PA policemen gunned down Jewish worshippers, killing one of them. Eyewitnesses saw smoke billowing over the tomb (of Joseph), which Arabs have frequently desecrated in the past.
The murder victim, 24-year-old Ben Yosef Chai, a nephew of Likud Minister Limor Livnat, was buried Sunday afternoon, several hours before the beginning of the last day of the seven-day Passover holiday Sunday evening.
PA police killed Livnat and wounded four others by opening fire on their cars after they prayed at Kever Yosef and were returning home.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak condemned the murder and said that the lack of coordination did not justify the Palestinian Authority police attack. He demanded that the PA investigate the shooting. Pictured is a bullethole in one of the vehicles targeted by the PA.
Many coalition Knesset Members are up in arms over the PA police attack. Cabinet Science minister, MK Prof. Rabbi Daniel Hershkowitz, chairman of the Jewish Home party that is part of the coalition, said the attack "unmasked the PA’s true face” and called for the return of the IDF to the holy site, where previous agreements guaranteed Israel control and the freedom of worship to Jews.
Israel since has surrendered Kever Yosef to the PA.
National Union chairman MK Yaakov Katz called on Israelis to remember that it was Israel that first armed the PA with rifles as part of the ill-fated Oslo Accords, signed in 1993. Livnat’s name is added to “the long list of 1,500 Jews who have been slaughtered by PA weapons,” MK Katz added.
The Shomron (Samaria) Residents Committee stated, “The murder this morning at Joseph's Tomb illustrates the danger of relying on the Palestinian police. Every Palestinian policeman is a potential terrorist whose hatred of Jews” is always present.
Likud MK Ze’ev Elkin and National Union MK Aryeh Eldad said, “There can be no room for any concession on the need for total control and freedom of action for the IDF in all regions of Judea and Samaria.”
The Human Rights Organization of Judea and Samaria declared that the murder provides further proof that contradicts a recent report that the Palestinian Authority is ready to become an independent country.
Source: IsraelNationalNews
The Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, Brig. Gen. Nitzan Alon, addressed this morning's shootings of Israeli worshippers near Joseph's Tomb in Shechem by Palestinian Authority security forces without any noticeable emotion, and did not say one word blaming the PA for murdering an unbillegerent Israeli citizen at close range.
The IDF statement issued together with Brig.-Gen. Alon's short video statement said: "The shooting killed one Israeli, Ben Yosef Livnat, and wounded four others. The IDF expresses its condolences to the Livnat family."
"Visits to Joseph's Tomb must be coordinated in advance so that Israeli security forces may provide proper arrangements for the safety of worshippers. Arriving at the Tomb independently without prior coordination is extremely dangerous."
INN Editor comments: Does this mean that the cold blooded murder of a man going to pray was justified? Is it par for the course when the perpetrators are Arabs? One could almost infer that from the lack of any condemnation of the murderers on the part of Gen. Alon.
The need for coordination is a security measure aimed at Israelis. The act of murder is a barbaric deed in itself whether or not it was made easier by lack of coordination with the IDF. (R.S. INN editor).
Source: IsraelNationalNews
Read also: One killed, 4 wounded from PA police gunfire in Nablus
Barak condemns Nablus shooting attack; orders IDF probe
'Murdered simply for being a Jew'
'Just wanted to pray.' Ben-Yosef Livnat Photo: Courtesy of The Shomron Settlers' CommitteeUpdate: Palestinians burn, desecrate Joseph’s Tomb (again) in celebration of attack on Jews
Horrified Worshippers Found Joseph’s Tomb Defaced Again
Desecration and destroying of Joseph’s Tomb (a Jewish holy site) by Palestinian Muslims in 2003:
