Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' torch Joseph's Tomb, CNN headline claims tomb spontaneously catches fire - UPDATED

At the beginning of the Oslo war (on Rosh HaShanna), a 'Palestinian' mob attacked Joseph's tomb and destroyed it. An IDF soldier, Mahdat Yusuf, bled to death in that attack. Ehud Barak was the Prime Minister (and Defense Minister) then and refused to let the IDF go in to rescue the soldiers who were trapped there. Former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz was the Judea and Samaria commander at the time. The tomb was closed for nearly ten years after that incident, and was officially reopened in 2010.

Around 5:00 am on Friday, 'Palestinian' terrorists torched the tomb - now under 'Palestinian' control with access supposedly guaranteed to Jews - once again.

According to available details about the Joseph's Tomb incident, at around 5 a.m. Friday some 100 Palestinians rioted outside the compound and at some point began hurling firebombs onto the premises, setting the main access to the tomb, its courtyard and part of the building on fire.

Defense officials told Channel 2 News that Palestinian security forces were able to extinguish the flames and disperse the riot by the time Israeli forces had arrived.

A second, smaller riot, erupted when Israeli security forces arrived at the holy site.

Rioters pelted the troops with rocks and threw firebombs at their vehicles. The soldiers use crowd control measures to disperse the riot.

Security forces have remained on the premises to prevent Palestinian rioters from vandalizing the site further.

Joseph's Tomb is under the Palestinian security forces' control. Jewish prayer in the compound is allowed, but worshippers are required to coordinate their visits with the military, which escorts them in and out of the area.

Jewish access to the compound is often restricted for security reasons.

Following the incident, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, tweeted, "IDF will bring perpetrators to justice, restore the site & ensure that freedom of worship returns to Joseph's Tomb."

Even UPI's headline said that the tomb had been set on fire by 'Palestinians.' But not CNN's. Their headline reads: Joseph's Tomb site catches fire in spate of Palestinian-Israeli violence. That's right, it just 'caught fire' (was it reaching up to catch it?) spontaneously. And it was in a spate of 'Palestinian'-Israeli violence - note that in the Yisrael HaYom account quoted above, there were no Israelis at the tomb when the 'Palestinians' set it on fire - the IDF arrived later.

Here's CNN's report, which is only slightly better.

Let's go to the videotape.


And the written report is not much better.

Fire broke out at the compound housing Joseph's Tomb overnight, a religious site venerated by Jews, the Israel Defense Forces said. Palestinian forces dispersed alleged Palestinian arsonists and put out the fire.

Unless you get to the second sentence, you might think there was a gas leak or an electrical failure. The initial report is 'fire broke out.' I have to wonder whether the words 'dispersed illegal Palestinian arsonists' were added later because other people saw the report.

CNN lies.

UPDATE 3:49 PM

I meant to add this, which I received by email:

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council: "As a Jew I must voice my deep shock over this terrible act. I believe that there's nobody from the free world who would not see this act as barbaric and criminal. To set on fire one of the holiest sites of the Jewish people - A historical asset to the whole world!

"This is the barbarity of the Palestinian Authority and the person heading it. Another act that proves that we cannot rely on this 'partner'. I call on the Prime Minister to immediately bring back IDF forces to Joseph's Tomb, because it's clear that if he doesn't, there will be nobody to guard this inalienable asset for us. Again, the responsibility belongs to Abu Mazen, the Holocaust denier, and he has to answer for it.

"Leaders of the enlightened world: Where are your condemnations??? John Kerry, Ban Ki Moon, Mogrini - such a gang of hypocrites! What would you have done if an important Islamic mosque were burned down? You should be ashamed of yourselves!!!

"In the face of such Arab barbarity in Shechem and the political hypocrisy overseas, I call on the Prime Minister to order IDF forces to return Israeli control to Joseph's Tomb (something that is called for even in the accursed Oslo accords).

The cat cannot guard the cream! He'll burn it!

Only the IDF can protect this holy site. We must put an end to this disgrace. This is the only real and correct response - THIS VERY MORNING is the time!

Indeed. 

Labels: arson, Joseph's tomb, Nablus, Palestinian terrorists, Shchem

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:02 PM