Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., June 13, 2008 Sivan 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:14 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 18:10 12/06/2008
Vilnai: Joseph's Tomb should be on agenda with Palestinians
By Nadav Shragai
Tags: Israel, Nablus, Joseph's Tomb


Israeli negotiators should tell their Palestinian counterparts that Jews should be able to return to Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told the Knesset on Wednesday.

With the outbreak of the second intifada, in September 2000, Israel Defense Forces troops withdrew from Joseph's Tomb on the orders of then-prime minister Ehud Barak.
Advertisement
The Palestinians demolished and looted the site, removing any sign of Jewish presence and turning it into a refuse dump.

Since Operation Defensive Shield in May 2002, when the IDF returned to Nablus, the army has organized a group visit under heavy guard approximately once a month, in which about 800 people participate, to avoid the risk of individual visits at other times. The visit takes place at night for security reasons.

MK Rabbi Yitzhak Levy (National Union-National Religious Party) has asked Barak to arrange access to Joseph's Tomb, pointing out that according to the Oslo Accords the tomb is a Jewish holy site.

In his response, Vilnai cited difficulties in securing the site but said that Israel would bring up the issue in negotiations. He also promised to look into having the defense establishment pay for restoration.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Snoop Dogg in Israel
American rapper Snoop Dogg slated to perform in Ramat Gan.
Late date
Scientists revive 2,000-year-old date seed found at Masada.
  1.   Once Israel Occupation Ends, Visits Should Be Allowed 03:38  |  Johan Odin 12/06/08
  2.   This is very sad 04:08  |  Slappy 12/06/08
  3.   to #1 Odin 04:15  |  duncan 12/06/08
  4.   johan 04:21  |  larry from maine 12/06/08
  5.   Million israeli arabs will carry golden dome from Rock to Mecca 04:31  |  Avi Shafran 12/06/08
  6.   Dear Little Johan 04:57  |  Brad 12/06/08
  7.   Once the Jihad ends, Mohammedans can visit the west 05:05  |  Barry 12/06/08
  8.   To Johan Odin 05:18  |  Proud Jew 12/06/08
  9.   Avi Shafran @#5 06:46  |  Akiva P 12/06/08
  10.   #1 - Johan 10:04  |  Michael 12/06/08
  11.   Jordan is Palestine 10:06  |  steve dill 12/06/08
  12.   Odin#1 10:45  |  ron 12/06/08
  13.   religious freedom 11:36  |  GottaBeKiddingMe 12/06/08
  14.   #8 And the Arabs Controlled the Region for How Long 12:10  |  Johan Odin 12/06/08
  15.   Test that the Palestinans failed 12:11  |  Ofer from Ofer 12/06/08
  16.   Sell up and move out 14:06  |  Gilad 12/06/08
  17.   In the Oslo agreement 16:57  |  Zev 12/06/08
  18.   #14 It`s always the Jews` fault 18:26  |  DesMnsDave 12/06/08
  19.   Odin 23:44  |  C 12/06/08
  20.   Johan Odin 03:19  |  Philippe 13/06/08
  21.   Destruction of Joseph`s Tomb 04:14  |  Reid 13/06/08
  22.   Odin`s odiousness et.al. 22:26  |  Gringo 13/06/08
 Read & React
Bradley Burston: Israel's own version of Holocaust denial
Responses: 58
'Israel Lobby' authors in Jerusalem: Ahmadinejad not inciting to genocide
Responses: 179
Mofaz: Hamas should be asking Israel for calm, not vice versa
Responses: 101
Hamas claims responsibility for deadly blast in Gaza house
Responses: 116
A year after Gaza takeover, Hamas shows no sign of ending violence
Responses: 62


More Headlines
23:09 Palestinian woman films masked men attacking W. Bank farmers
20:26 Assad: Israel has learned it needs peace for security
17:30 Barak: Kadima power struggle stalling cease-fire with Hamas
22:48 EU supports boosting ties with Israel, debates linking relations to peace talk progress
19:50 How to engage the pivotal demographic of American Jewish singles
15:21 The torture police / Every Shin Bet move is watched by its legal team
22:22 Polish priest accused of anti-Semitic remarks won't be prosecuted
12:47 Mofaz: Hamas should be asking Israel for calm, not vice versa
13:40 Hamas claims responsibility for deadly blast in Gaza house
18:58 Report: Turkey and Syria consider joint nuclear energy project
12:27 New Argentine Jewish leader denies favoring the Orthodox
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
In the heart of Tel-Aviv
The Meier on Rothschild tower
Jerusalem of Gold
Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location
Your vacation starts here
Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
Istudy
Learn Hebrew in 3 months
The Terraces
Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya
Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
http://www.pardes.org.il/
Free the Palestinians from:
Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved