Daylight Prayer at Joseph's Tomb Marks Shift in West Bank Access, Settler Leader Hails 'Significant Step'

NABLUS, West Bank – For the first time in a quarter of a century, Jewish worshippers conducted a full morning prayer service at Joseph's Tomb in daylight on Thursday, a shift in policy that has drawn both celebration and condemnation amid the fraught politics of the occupied territory.

An estimated 1,500 pilgrims, including ultra-Orthodox Jews and West Bank settlers, gathered at the site in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The visit, coordinated with Israeli military escorts, marked a significant change from the norm of tightly restricted nighttime visits enforced since Israel withdrew its troops from the tomb in 2000 following Palestinian uprising violence.

Jews venerate the location as the burial place of the biblical patriarch Joseph. Muslims regard it as the tomb of a local holy figure, Sheikh Yussef. The site's status is deeply contested and visits by Jewish groups have frequently triggered clashes with Palestinian residents who view them as provocations and assertions of control.

"This is a significant and important step toward... ensuring the full return of the people of Israel and the State of Israel to this holy place," said Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, which oversees Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank. His council's statement emphasized the historical nature of the "Shacharit" morning prayer held after sunrise.

The tomb is situated within Area A of the West Bank, which, under the 1990s Oslo Accords, is officially under the security and administrative control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel, however, maintains overall security control of the West Bank, which it has occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the territory illegal.

Policy Shift

The daylight prayer follows reported directives from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz late last year to the military to facilitate more frequent visits to the tomb, not limited to nighttime hours. Previously, escorted convoys were required to depart by 4:00 a.m.

An AFP journalist on scene reported about 25 buses arriving overnight, departing under military escort around 7:00 a.m. Footage showed worshippers praying, some wearing tefillin (phylacteries). The Israeli military stated the operation was conducted "according to the orders of the political echelon" and that the army is "subordinate to their instructions."

Voices & Reaction

David Cohen, 58, History Teacher from Jerusalem: "This is about access to a sacred site, not politics. For decades, prayers were held under cover of darkness like a clandestine act. Today restores a semblance of normalcy for religious observance."

Leila Hassan, 42, NGO Worker from Ramallah: "It's a deliberate escalation and a violation of the agreements. Each 'step' they celebrate is a step deeper into annexation. This isn't about prayer; it's about power and demonstrating who controls Palestinian land, even in Area A."

Aaron Weiss, 35, Software Developer from Beit El settlement: "Finally! This should have happened years ago. Joseph's Tomb is part of our heritage, and we shouldn't need army permission to visit our own history. This is a move toward sovereignty, and it's overdue."

Professor Samuel Brenner, Political Analyst, Tel Aviv University: "The timing and nature of this event are politically charged. It signals the current government's willingness to alter long-standing status quos in sensitive religious sites, which has direct implications for stability and the already strained relationship with the Palestinian Authority."