Israel considers restoring permanent Jewish presence at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus

For the first time since the Second Intifada, the Israeli occupation army is considering reestablishing a permanent Jewish presence at Joseph's Tomb, located in the heart of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, 25 years after its evacuation, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.

According to the newspaper, the Israeli military's Central Command is preparing an official plan on the practical feasibility of this move, which is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.

This issue had been frozen due to the recent war with Iran, but it has recently returned to the forefront.

In this context, an expanded conference will be held in the Knesset on Tuesday, with the participation of ministers, MKs, public figures, and bereaved families, with the aim of exerting additional pressure at the political and military levels to advance the plan to return to the site.

Two weeks ago, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's Subcommittee on West Bank Affairs held its first meeting to discuss the security situation at Joseph's Tomb. The meeting was attended by Settlement Council Chairman Yossi Dagan, MK Zvi Sukkot, who chairs the committee, and Civil Administration Deputy Head Lt. Col. Lahat Shemesh, along with representatives of the security establishment. During the meeting, a representative from the Central Command pledged to provide a detailed assessment within six weeks.

It's worth noting that the restoration of a permanent Jewish presence at Joseph's Tomb is a step with significant security and political implications, as it would alter the status quo that has existed for more than two decades. It remains unclear how the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian public, as well as the United States and European countries, would react to such a move.

Settler leaders stress the need to expedite the plan's implementation, fearing the possibility of the Knesset being dissolved and new elections being held, which could derail their project. They, however, describe regaining control of the tomb as a sovereign and security responsibility.

MK Zvi Sukkot said: "The State of Israel cannot violate its agreements and neglect a site of such importance. Joseph's Tomb must return to permanent Israeli control as part of our responsibility in Judea and Samaria."

For his part, Settlement Council Chairman Yossi Dagan stressed, "After October 7, it became clear that escaping terrorism meant being pursued by it. We must regain control of Joseph's Tomb to achieve security in Nablus and throughout Israel."

In the same context, Rabbi Dudu Ben Natan, head of a religious seminary in Rehelim, who lost his son in the recent war in southern Lebanon, called for a full return to the site, considering it a step toward correcting a "historical injustice," as he put it.