IDF probes alleged arson attack on Biblical High Priest Eleazar's tomb near Nablus in West Bank
The IDF is investigating a suspected arson attack on the West Bank tomb believed to belong to Eleazar the Priest, the biblical son of Aaron, after footage of the alleged incident circulated online.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are investigating an alleged arson attack on a tomb believed to hold the remains of Eleazar the Priest, a significant biblical figure in Judaism and Samaritan faith, located near Nablus in the West Bank. Footage of the incident was shared on Palestinian social media, with the attackers fleeing before IDF forces arrived. The Israel Police and forensic investigators are set to enter the village under IDF escort to gather evidence and collect witness statements.
Eleazar, son of Moses' brother Aaron, was the second High Priest of the Israelites, and his tomb has repeatedly been targeted by vandals. In the past, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) was accused of spray-painting the site. The site has also faced desecration by colonists, with the Palestinian Authority-controlled WAFA news agency reporting on an incident where colonists fired live ammunition at a home in western Awarta town, south of Nablus.
The PA and Israeli authorities have previously clashed over the protection of religiously and historically significant sites in the region, with Israel recently taking steps to assume control over archaeological sites, citing concerns over their preservation.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
