worshippers gathered at the Biblical site to pray, several media reports said Friday, October 17.
News about the anti-Jewish incident came as a Palestinian opinion poll showed that three out of four Palestinians support this month’s suicide bombing in a family restaurant in Haifa which killed up to 23 people, and that most believe the international peace plan is dead..
The group of about 500 Jews had been allowed by the Israeli army to visit the location Thursday, October 16, to observe the Jewish Sukkot holiday, also known as Feast of Tabernacles.
As the second half of the group began their prayer service, the army received an urgent warning that they would soon come under attack, and hastily evacuated the civilians said the Jerusalem NewsWire (JNW), a Christian news agency.
TOMB ALIGHT
"Shortly after, Palestinian Arabs set the tomb alight by hurling flaming tires at the place were only minutes earlier Jews had been worshipping their God," JNW reported.
The well informed International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) said that Palestinian Authority (PA) fire fighters put out the blaze, which has been linked to growing anger among Palestinians about what they see as Israeli army occupation.
That apparent frustration was also reflected in an opinion poll of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR). The PSR found that 75 percent of Palestinians agreed with the devastating bombing of the Maxim restaurant in Haifa.
It seemed to confirm the reported massive street celebrations in Palestinian territories shortly after the bomb exploded.
"PEACE IS DEAD"
78% of Palestinians believe the US roadmap for peace is dead, yet a vast majority ( 85%) want a mutual cease-fire, according to the PSR opinion poll, published Friday, October 17.
If the two sides agree on a mutual cessation of violence, 59% (compared to 50% last June) would support taking measures by the PA to prevent attacks on Israelis.
Although eight out of ten Palestinians believe the PA is corrupt, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat saw his popularity increase from 35% last June to 50% in October, mainly due to Israeli threats against him, the PSR said.
FURTHER SHOCK
The opinion poll and violence at the Joseph Tomb’s came as a further shock for relatives of the victims of the suicide bombing that rocked Haifa, October 4.
Not only Jews were killed, but also several members of Haifa’s Maronite community, including Maxim Restaurant manager George Matar, who was 59.
Matar was buried Thursday night, October 16, at Haifa’s Christian cemetery after succumbing a dau earlier to serious wounds he had sustained in the blast, JNW reported.
Many victims of the bombing remain hospitalized at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center some two weeks after the attack.
ONE EYE LOST
Ten-year-old Oren Almog – whose grandparents, father, brother and cousin were killed in the attack, and whose sister and aunt are also still hospitalized -Has lost one eye during operations to save his life.
Doctors plan to transfer him to the U.S. this week in an effort to save his other eye, but the Almog family’s insurance will not cover the operation, and the family is asking for donations, JNW reported.
As the Sukkot holiday got underway one week ago, three-year- old Hadar Bahat remained hospitalized in critical condition. The boy’s mother, Tova, whose husband was killed in the bombing, pleaded with anyone willing to pray for the survival of her son.
FIGHTING FOR LIFE
"He is simply fighting for his life. Therefore, the first thing I ask from everyone who hears me, is to send a prayer, everyone in his own way, that he should have the strength to overcome," JNW quoted her as telling Army Radio last week.
"He is a strong boy, and beautiful – so much like his father, and I just have to have him remain alive," the widow and grieving mother said on Army Radio last week.
Also killed in the attack were five members of the Zer-Aviv family, including the father, mother and two children. Irena Sofrin, 38, also perished in the bombing, leaving behind her wounded husband and two children, JNW said.
ANTI SEMITISM
Up to 4,000 Christians from around the world have gathered in Israel this week to show support for the Jewish state, a far cry from what was heard from leaders of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference Friday, October 17.
In what critics described as an anti-Semitic speech the summit chairman, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, suggested that Jews rule the world, while Islamic leaders apparently lack influence.
"We are actually very strong. One-point-three billion people cannot be simply wiped out," he said. "The Europeans killed six million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule this world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamir Albar he was surprised about the international condemnation of the prime minister’s remarks.
"I’m sorry that they have misunderstood the whole thing," the foreign minister told reporters later. "The only problem with the Jews is when the State of Israel was created," he added.
