Five Breslov Chassidim, who endangered their lives by sneaking into Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem in the the middle of the night — without coordination with the IDF — were attacked and arrested by Palestinian Authority (PA) police.
During the night, four of the Chassidim left their car and walked to Joseph’s Tomb, while the fifth Breslov Chassid, the driver, stayed with their vehicle.
At around 4 AM, according to Hatzalah Yo”sh, the PA police tried to arrest the Breslov Chassid in the car, and he sped off back to Jerusalem, leaving his friends behind.
As he sped off, the PA police reportedly opened fire. There is a hole in the car’s windshield which may be from a bullet. The driver was not injured.
The other 4 were arrested by the PA police, and eventually handed over to the IDF.
Joseph’s Tomb, according to the Oslo Accords, is supposed to be under Israeli control, but entry requires coordination and a permit from the IDF who runs the occasional organized, guarded visit to the Jewish holy site.
Yossi Dagan, the head of the Shomron Municipal Council called on everyone who wants to visit Joseph’s Tomb to not do so, unless it is in coordination with the IDF, and to do so otherwise is a sin against the Torah commandment to guard your life.
Dagan also demanded the IDF protect Jewish rights and ensure more Jewish entry to the site.
According to the Honeinu Legal Aid Society, the four are now being interrogated by the Israeli police in the Shomron district.
Arabs have repeatedly vandalized and destroyed the site.