The ancient site of Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus has become the epicenter of intensified Israeli military and settler activities since October 2023, with recent developments seeing unprecedented international political participation. Last week’s incursion marked a significant escalation when twenty US lawmakers from the National Association of Christian Lawmakers joined settlers and Israeli forces in a heavily guarded visit to the contested religious site.
Arkansas Senator Jason Rapert, founder of NACL, explicitly endorsed Israeli sovereignty claims during the military-escorted tour, stating: ‘Israel and the Jewish people are the rightful heirs and sovereigns of all these areas.’ The delegation publicly praised the Israeli Defense Forces for their protection during the visit.
Palestinian analysts interpret these developments as part of a systematic strategy to reassert Israeli control. Veteran journalist Nawaf al-Amer, who has extensively documented the tomb’s contentious history, told Middle East Eye: ‘Since 7 October, the situation has completely shifted. Israel has been carrying out large, scheduled incursions involving significant numbers of settlers, religious figures, political leaders and influential parliamentarians.’
The site embodies the competing historical narratives that fuel the conflict. Palestinians identify it as the burial place of Sheikh Youssef Dweikat, a local cleric from the early 20th century, while Israelis venerate it as the tomb of the Prophet Joseph, a figure sacred to both Islamic and Jewish traditions.
This religious significance has been weaponized for political objectives, according to al-Amer: ‘The occupation has attempted to construct a fabricated historical narrative to claim ancient roots in the land, using religious symbolism to serve political aims. Joseph’s Tomb is one example.’
The current escalation occurs within the broader context of surging settler violence across the West Bank. United Nations data indicates that 2,200 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to settler activities and access restrictions over the past two years, with an additional 40,000 displaced from northern West Bank refugee camps during military operations. Tragically, settlers have killed 21 Palestinians during this period, contributing to the over 1,000 fatalities caused by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
Historical context reveals that Israel established a yeshiva at the site in the 1980s, maintaining heavy military protection until abandoning its permanent post in 2000. However, monthly settler visits continued under military escort, frequently sparking confrontations with Palestinian residents who view these incursions as pretexts for extending Israeli control.
The current push to reintroduce the yeshiva, coupled with increased settler activism and international political support, signals a potentially permanent transformation of the status quo at one of the region’s most symbolically charged locations.