The Palestinian Authority has returned to Israel a steel door at Joseph’s Tomb (Kever Yosef) after it had been installed by Jews following the latest Muslim desecration of the holy site in Shechem.
Israeli authorities had sent as key to the door to Ramallah, apparently to emphasize that the Palestinian Authority has control of the site.
Ramallah sent back the key, as well as the door, according to Bethlehem-based Ma’an News Agency.
It quoted Shechem (Nablus) Governor Akram Rajoub as saying that “extremist” settlers installed the door in an alleged violation of agreements that Joseph’s Tomb is under PA control.
Palestinian Authority Arabs have desecrated the site several times. PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas called last month’s arson attack “irresponsible” and ordered repairs to extensive damage from a firebomb attack.
Rajoub said that the regime in Ramallah is refurbishing it “at its own expense because it views this place as having religious and historic importance to the Palestinian society.”