Palestinians firebomb Joseph’s Tomb holy site in Nablus

Dozens of Palestinians have thrown fire bombs at a West Bank site revered by some Jews as the tomb of biblical patriarch Joseph.

Palestinian security forces extinguished the blaze early today. Footage on local media shows flames leaping from the small stone structure in the West Bank city of Nablus.

#Nablus: 100+ #Palestinian‘s rioted & set up fire in Joseph’s Tomb (Jewish holy site) pic.twitter.com/SPDnwU7dO7

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 16, 2015

The tomb has become a popular prayer site in recent years among some religious Jews. The arson comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Over the past month, eight Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks, most of them stabbings.

In that time, 31 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including 14 labelled byIsrael as attackers, and the rest in clashes with Israeli troops.

VIDEO: Palestinians set ablaze Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, a Jewish holy site – @ILNewsFlash pic.twitter.com/pjKXsZkgGv

— Conflict News (@Conflicts) October 16, 2015

In a statement  PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the act “irresponsible”and said a committee was being formed to investigate, according to Wafa news agency,

Abbas “decided to immediately form an investigative commission to probe this irresponsible act committed this morning, and [to] repair the damage to the site caused by these deplorable actions,” according to AFP.