Security forces arrested nine Breslov chassidim for illegally entering Shechem to make their way to Kever Yosef.

Army and police officials view their actions very seriously, explaining that not only did they place themselves in danger, but compel soldiers to compromise their own security in order to extricate them from the area.

The IDF Central District Commander has signed an order prohibiting Israelis from entering areas under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction, under penalty of the penal code.

Ironically, prior to the signing of the September 1993 Oslo Agreement, then Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin assured the nation of many things regarding the agreement, including free access to Jewish holy sites, which included Kever Yosef and Yericho.

Since the White House signing ceremony, Jews are barred from both PA autonomous areas. The Arabs on numerous occasions have burned down and defiled Kever Yosef. Also targeted by PA residents was the Shalom Al Yisrael shul in Yericho, the oldest known shul, burned down in an act of arson. The yeshivas which maintained a presence in both holy sites were compelled to shut down. The holy sites have been abandoned and now remain in the hands of the PA.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)