THE TOMB OF JOSEPH CONTROVERSY:  PROOF THAT SPEAKING OUT WORKS

THE TOMB OF JOSEPH CONTROVERSY:  PROOF THAT SPEAKING OUT WORKS

 

At a time when the powers that be often ignore Jewish concerns, it’s encouraging to see the results that can be achieved when an American Zionist organization speaks out.

Last week, Stephen Flatow, the newly-elected president of the Religious Zionists of America (RZA), spoke out on an issue that too many Jewish organizations have neglected: the outrageous violation of the rights of Jews who want to pray or study at the Tomb of Joseph.

Our readers know Flatow as a prolific author whose trenchant essays have appeared in these pages. Seared by the unspeakable tragedy of Palestinian Arab terrorists murdering his daughter Alisa, Flatow has devoted his energy to the rights of Jewish victims of terrorism.

The tomb is situated in the city of Shechem (Nablus), in Palestinian Authority-controlled territory. The Oslo accords guarantee the right of Jews to worship freely there, as well as at other holy sites located in PA territory, such as the Tomb of Rachel. But the Palestinian Arabs have shown little regard for Jewish religious rights.

Again and again, Palestinian Arab terrorists have attacked the Jewish worshippers, or the Israeli soldiers protecting them. In one particular horrifying assault in the year 2000, terrorists murdered a young Israeli-American rabbi, Hillel Lieberman (a relative of former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman) and ransacked the synagogue which is part of the tomb structure. The international community was silent.

This week, terrorist bombs wounded four Israeli soldiers who were preparing the route for Jewish worshippers going to the tomb. The RZA was the only Jewish organization to respond. President Flatow contacted the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), urging them to speak out.

The commission is one of those U.S. government agencies that few people know much about. It’s tasked with the responsibility of monitoring religious freedom around the world. But we all know how political considerations can sometimes get in the way, and Jewish rights at the Tomb of Joseph do not seem to have attracted the commission’s attention—until now.

In response to the RZA’s plea, the Commission today issued a strong statement about the attack at the Tomb of Joseph. Commission chair Abraham Cooper said: “USCIRF is deeply concerned by a recent armed violent attack against Jewish worshippers approaching Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. People of all faiths have the right to worship without fear, consistent with international law.”

Strong words, and a good first step. This will remind the international community that Jews are not willing to take such abuse lying down. It will put pressure on the Biden administration to stop turning a blind eye to Palestinian outrages. And it will put the Palestinian Authority on notice that not everybody has forgotten what its obligations are under the Oslo accords.

Kudos to Stephen Flatow and the Religious Zionists of America for raising this important issue. They are a breath of fresh air in the American Jewish community–and a political force to be reckoned with.