IDF forces were protecting 16 busloads of worshippers praying at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus early Thursday morning when they were suddenly attacked with stones, burning tires and firebombs by an Arab rabble from the neighboring Balata refugee camp.
The forces, who were from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Judea and Samaria Division police officers, and Israel Border Police, responded with crowd dispersal measures.
One soldier was injured by live fire. He was evacuated to Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva with moderate injuries and is said to be stable.
Just a week ago a group of Breslaver chassidim who had entered Joseph’s Tomb without army coordination were attacked by rioting Arabs and had to be saved by the immediate intervention of the army.
The internal security situation in Nablus has greatly deteriorated among the Arabs themselves, and the different gangs have been battling continuously with the Palestinian government and police forces.