About 1,500 Jewish worshippers held a daytime Shacharit at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, breaking a roughly 25-year practice of night-only visits. The event was praised by settler leader Yossi Dagan as a step toward asserting Israeli claims, while the Israeli military said it acted on political orders to extend visiting hours. The tomb lies in Nablus's built-up Area A, administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, and such visits have previously provoked Palestinian anger.
Daytime Shacharit at Joseph's Tomb Draws 1,500 Worshippers — Settler Leader Calls It A Step Toward Sovereignty
Jewish pilgrims can only visit Joseph's Tomb in groups escorted by troops (Menahem KAHANA)(Menahem KAHANA/AFP/AFP)
Around 1,500 Israeli Jews gathered for a morning Shacharit prayer at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus on Thursday — a significant departure from the past quarter-century practice of permitting Jewish worship there only at night. The event was hailed by a settler leader as an "important step" toward asserting Israeli claims over the site.
What Happened
Worshippers performed the Shacharit service after sunrise, escorted and supervised by Israeli military vehicles. AFP footage showed large groups praying at the compound, with some men wearing tefillin, the small leather phylacteries worn during weekday morning prayers. A journalist on site reported that around 25 full buses arrived overnight carrying settlers and Jewish worshippers from inside Israel.
Official Statements
"This is a significant and important step toward... ensuring the full return of the people of Israel and the State of Israel to this holy place," said Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council.
An Israeli military spokesperson told AFP that the operation was carried out "according to the orders of the political echelon, not an army initiative," adding that the political leadership decided to extend the site's opening hours.
Context And Sensitivities
Joseph's Tomb, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, is venerated in Jewish tradition as the burial site of the Biblical patriarch Joseph; many Muslims regard the location as the tomb of a local religious figure. The compound sits inside Nablus's built-up area in West Bank Area A, which under the Oslo Accords is administered by the Palestinian Authority.
Visits by Jewish worshippers to the tomb have frequently prompted clashes with Palestinians, who say such visits are provocative. Since 2000, Israeli authorities had limited Jewish prayer at the site to escorted, primarily night-time visits; reports say Defence Minister Israel Katz issued directives in December to allow visits beyond those hours.
Legal And Political Notes
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Most countries and international bodies consider Israeli settlements in the territory to be illegal under international law. The daytime prayer in broad daylight represents a notable shift in practice and is likely to have political and security implications in the near term.
Key figures: ~1,500 worshippers; ~25 buses; arrival overnight and departure by 07:00 under military escort.
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