Views of Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, from the early 1900's
thru today's fortress-like structure.
Military escorts and bullet-proof buses are required in order to access this popular Jewish holy site.
Palestinian Authority and Jewish Holy Sites: Rachel's Tomb as a Test Case
-Nadav Shragai
[F]or more than 1,700 years [the site] has been identified as the tomb of the [Biblical] matriarch Rachel.
-Nadav Shragai
[F]or more than 1,700 years [the site] has been identified as the tomb of the [Biblical] matriarch Rachel.
"The building with the dome and olive tree" became a Jewish symbol, appearing in thousands of drawings, photographs, and works of art and depicted on the covers of Jewish holy books. However, today the little domed structure has been encased in a sleeve of reinforced concrete with firing holes and defensive trenches, and covered with camouflage netting.
[T]he State of Israel has been badly disappointed by agreements transferring responsibility for Jewish holy places to neighboring Arab or Palestinian rule. [In] 1995, [an] Interim Agreement was signed on the White House lawn, making the Palestinians responsible for areas of the West Bank.
With the outbreak of the second intifada in the fall of 2000, Joseph's Tomb in Nablus was attacked, set ablaze and desecrated. [A] synagogue in Jericho was attacked. Holy books and relics were burned, and the synagogue's ancient mosaic was damaged.
Bullets were fired at Rachel's Tomb as soon as the riots began. Palestinian security forces not only failed to prevent the violence, they actively participated in it. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the battles.
Unfortunately, there has been a discernable deterioration in Palestinian treatment of Jewish holy sites in 2007, including the Tomb of Joshua. Israel's experience since the Oslo agreements has shown that the responsibility for Jewish holy sites or the roads leading to them should remain in Israeli hands.
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
[T]he State of Israel has been badly disappointed by agreements transferring responsibility for Jewish holy places to neighboring Arab or Palestinian rule. [In] 1995, [an] Interim Agreement was signed on the White House lawn, making the Palestinians responsible for areas of the West Bank.
With the outbreak of the second intifada in the fall of 2000, Joseph's Tomb in Nablus was attacked, set ablaze and desecrated. [A] synagogue in Jericho was attacked. Holy books and relics were burned, and the synagogue's ancient mosaic was damaged.
Bullets were fired at Rachel's Tomb as soon as the riots began. Palestinian security forces not only failed to prevent the violence, they actively participated in it. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the battles.
Unfortunately, there has been a discernable deterioration in Palestinian treatment of Jewish holy sites in 2007, including the Tomb of Joshua. Israel's experience since the Oslo agreements has shown that the responsibility for Jewish holy sites or the roads leading to them should remain in Israeli hands.
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
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