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Palestinians set fire to Joseph's Tomb Jewish holy site Palestinians set fire to Joseph's Tomb Jewish holy site
(about 1 hour later)
Palestinians have torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions with Israel.Palestinians have torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions with Israel.
Rioters set fire to a tomb which Jews revere as that of the biblical figure Joseph. Palestinian security forces managed to put out the blaze. Rioters set fire to a tomb which Jews revere as that of the biblical figure Joseph. Firefighters put out the blaze but the site was badly damaged.
It came hours after Israel's PM called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks. It came hours after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks.
There have been near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month, as violence between the two sides spirals.There have been near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month, as violence between the two sides spirals.
Israel's military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner tweeted that attack on Joseph's Tomb was "a blatant violation of the basic value of freedom of worship". Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in stabbings and shootings. At least 30 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have also been killed in the growing unrest.
He said Israeli security forces would "bring perpetrators to justice and restore the site". The upsurge began last month when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to increase Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims.
This is not the first time the tomb has come under attack. Palestinians tried to set fire to it again last year and virtually destroyed the site in 2000. 'Blatant violation'
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians over the past fortnight have been fuelled by clashes in Jerusalem, in the West Bank, and across the Gaza border, as well as the wave of stabbings. In the night-time attack in Nablus, tens of Palestinians overran the tomb, attacking it with petrol bombs.
Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded. Palestinian police dispersed the crowd and firefighters extinguished the blaze before Israeli security forces arrived.
At least 30 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have been killed in recent violence. Israel's military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said the attack was "a blatant violation of the basic value of freedom of worship".
He said Israel would "bring perpetrators to justice and restore the site".
This is not the first time the tomb has come under attack. Palestinians tried to set fire to it again last year and virtually destroyed the site in 2000 after Israeli guards withdrew amid clashes.
It comes amid a major security operation by Israel to try to stop attacks on its citizens by Palestinians.
Roadblocks have been set up in Palestinian areas of East Jerusalem, where many of the attackers have come from, and hundreds of extra troops will be deployed on the streets on Sunday.
Hours before the attack in Nablus, Mr Netanyahu called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to stop what he said was incitement to violence.
Mr Abbas has said Israeli occupation of Palestinian areas and "aggression" is to blame for the unrest.
Meanwhile the UN Security Council is to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the upsurge of violence.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he planned to travel to the region in the next few days, amid reports that a meeting may take place in Jordan to include the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.