Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 29, 2007 Tevet 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 16:26 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

The parochet of Joseph's Tomb. (Courtesy of Nissim Hovav) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 18:58 28/12/2007 Police probe disappearance of holy relic from Rachel's Tomb By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Joseph's Tomb, Israel  The police have been investigating in recent months the disappearance of an ornamental curtain covering the front of the Holy Ark in the chapel at Rachel's Tomb near the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The curtain, or parochet, originally belonged to Joseph's Tomb. However, following the Israel Defense Forces' evacuation of the site after the outbreak of the second intifada, the tomb had been demolished by Palestinians and a mosque was erected in its stead. The parochet was then moved to Rachel's Tomb in northern Bethlehem for public display. Thousands of visitors passed the parochet in recent years; some lit candles for remembrance and others prayed. It is still unclear how someone managed to remove this important item from its heavily fortified place. Advertisement Some suspect that the disappearance has to do with an ongoing dispute over the control of Rachel's Tomb. The parochet disappeared in February for the second time since it was moved to Rachel's Tomb. It first went missing when an unidentified man passed it on to a woman from the Alon Moreh settlement, whose daughter had been killed in a terrorist attack. The parochet was then returned to Rachel's Tomb, only to disappear again a week later. MK Haim Amsalem (Shas) has recently filed a parliamentary question regarding this issue. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter said in response that the affair was being examined by the police. Related articles: Remembering Joseph's Tomb and preparing for war Hasids plan second trip to Nablus tomb, despite IDF warning IDF, Border Police evacuate and dismantle two W. Bank outposts Bookmark to del.icio.us Who shot Bhutto? Conspiracy theories over the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader abound. Obama and Israel Israelis following the U.S. elections are not clear on Obama's approach.   1.   Religion of peace 13:01  |  Justice-seeker 28/12/07   2.   Revisionism 13:22  |  Nik "Banned" Miller 28/12/07   3.   Nik Nik Nik 13:48  |  Israeli 28/12/07   4.   Install cameras and sensors, guard dogs, etc. 14:01  |  Petra 28/12/07   5.   I Wish To Help 19:57  |  Leah Vanatta Fisher 28/12/07   6.   Why has there not been any punishment or repercussions... 20:02  |  Jordan 28/12/07   7.   Stick to the core subject: Find out who stole the holy relic! 20:13  |  Mohamed 28/12/07   8.   jordan 4 23:58  |  realism 28/12/07   9.   sounds like a joo on joo crime!!! 01:31  |  oh no!!! 29/12/07   10.   Leah darling, have aglass of cold milk and go to bed! 04:41  |  Marabu 29/12/07

Today Online 2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack Responses: 363 Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House Responses: 161 PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts Responses: 106 Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release Responses: 90 IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid Responses: 93 New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands Responses: 44 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Mailbox: Why should Ron Paul care about Israel? The blog and the Jews (WTR) An exacerbated tension between Olmert and Rice Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008 More Headlines 16:11 PA minister vows 'harsh measures' against killers of 2 Israelis 16:05 Official says PA dismantling Al-Aqsa and other militant groups 15:36 Close to two thousand pilgrims from Gaza trapped in Egypt 13:27 Sarkozy, in Egypt, offers French nuclear assistance to Cairo 14:28 U.S. court overturns award over W. Bank shooting of yeshiva boy 22:03 Some U.S. candidates warn: The real danger is Pakistan, not Iran 10:36 Pakistani militant leader denies involvement in Bhutto killing 10:34 PM announces intention to change building permits 08:03 Two Hamas militants wounded in internal violence in Gaza Strip 15:18 Court rules painting auctioned by Nazis belongs to Jewish man Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec

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