Relatively Peaceful Ramadan Despite Bomb Scare

After a quiet month of Ramadan, vandalism, a knife and a bomb were
discovered at the site. No injuries were reported.

 

On Monday, June 11, 2018 an improvised explosive device made of two small gas
canisters was found planted at an entrance to the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The site was
closed for approximately one hour while sappers neutralized the device. The police
issued a statement which read: “There is a unique coexistence in the area of the Tomb of
Machpela that includes security forces and border police. Their goal is to allowing
freedom of worship to both Jews and Muslims. We will continue to work with determination
and professionalism to protect the security of all citizens, residents and visitors to
the site.” 

A day before, on Sunday, it was discovered that portions of the Jewish side of the Tomb
of Machpela were vandalized during the final Friday of the month. One of the large
stone flower displays was broken, as shown in the above photo. There was an attempted
break-in of the locked book case containing Jewish books inside the complex. In past
years, the mezuzah from the
Jewish entrance was stolen. The mezuzah had been dedicated in memory of a victim of Arab
terrorism. Also, in 2016, A storage shed used by the Tomb’s maintenance staff was
also broken into, with thousands of shekels worth of equipment stolen.

On Monday night, border police arrested a PA resident who attempted to enter the Cave of
the Patriarchs concealing a knife. The Jerusalem
Post reported that the Hebron area man was asked by police to
remove his coat, at which point the knife fell to the ground. The man was taken in for
further questioning. 

The 2,000-year-old Machpela structure houses the underground burial caves of the
Biblical Matriarchs and Patriarchs.  Local Muslims call the site the Ibrahimi
Mosque, using the Arabic name for Abraham. There are ten days of the year for exclusive
Muslim prayer services and ten days for Jewish services, corresponding to each
religion’s holidays. During Muslim holidays, Jewish services are held outside at
the Seventh Step
garden.

 

Israeli and PA security and medical teams work together to ensure safe access
for the crowds. Despite the well-publicized tension between Jews and Muslims in the
city, officials from both sides work together during large scale events. For the
most part, there are no incidents. Likewise in Jerusalem, thousands of Muslim from
around the region prayed at the Temple Mount throughout the month of Ramadan
without any serious altercations. According
to the Times of Israel, on the first day of Ramadan,
“some 40,000 West Bank Muslims came into the city to pray alongside East Jerusalemites.
Some 8,000 Palestinians gathered to pray at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in
Hebron.”

 

Ynet
News reported a relative calm, describing Israeli soldiers greeting
Muslims worshipers as they left the metropolis of the PA side of Hebron to venture into
the mixed Jewish-Arab section of the Israeli controlled Old City where the Tomb of
located. “The Palestinians arrive for the prayer dressed in their finest clothes, some
wearing elegant white galabiyas and others—especially the children and the youth—wearing
a white flat cap with the caption, ‘Praying at the Cave of the Patriarchs on
Ramadan.’ A large blue sign, prepared by the Judea Territorial Brigade, welcomes
the worshippers at the entrance to the cave with the ‘Ramadan Kareem’ greeting…
Within less than an hour, as many as 5,700 Palestinians gather in the adjacent Cave of
the Patriarchs, crowded in the halls of the Jewish part of the cave as well, which is
fully allocated to Muslims on the Fridays of the main Muslim holiday. As the prayer
reaches its climax, Border Police forces close the entrance—not for security reasons,
but simply because it is packed to the brim. The prayer continues in perfect silence,
and crowds of other people prostrate themselves, despite the scorching heat, in the
compound’s yards and on the stone path leading to the cave.”



During normal days, the Cave of the Patriarchs is divided into Jewish and Muslim
sections, with the large Hall of Isaac being the designated as the Muslim portion.
During respective holidays, each group removes religious items such as books, carpets
and signage and returns them after the holiday is over.

Hebron is the largest and most industrialized city in the PA. The Arab side of the
city has been celebrating the month-long holiday with special events for children
in Ibn Hussein stadium and by lighting up the main square.

 

 

 

All in all, this year’s Ramadan has been peaceful in comparison. 13-year-old
Hallel Yaffa Ariel was
murdered by an Arab terrorist in her bed during Ramadan of 2016. Strings of terrorist
attacks have marred Ramadan in the past.

 

The next Muslim holiday will be the final night of Ramadan, Eid Al
Fitr on Thursday, June 14, 2018. The next Jewish holiday in which the Tomb of
Machpela will be open in its entirety to Jews will be Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul,
celebrated early, on Thursday, August 9, 2018. For full list of openings and
closings click
here.

 

 

During the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, more vandalism was discovered. A
mezuzah was smashed in the section usually used for bar mitzvah
ceremonies.

 

 

* BORDER
POLICE THWART KNIFE-CARRYING PALESTINIAN AT CAVE OF THE
PATRIARCHS

* Palestinians
break their fast during Ramadan in Hebron

* In Hebron,
residents choose Ramadan shopping over riots

* RAMADAN
BRINGS BETTER BUSINESS TO HEBRON’S OLD CITY MARKET

* Signs
of Judaism Erased From Cave of Patriarchs for Ramadan

* Tens
of thousands from West Bank attend Ramadan prayers in
Jerusalem

* Bomb planted at
entrance to Hevron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs

* Sappers
destroy bomb found near Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron

* New Mezuzah
Beautifies Tomb After Robbery

VISIT HEBRON TODAY!

United States contact info:



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1760 Ocean Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11230

718-677-6886

info@hebronfund.org

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Israeli contact info:

http://en.hebron.org.il/

02-996-5333

office@hebron.com

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