Palestinian youth stand next to a burning car belonging to an Israeli settler, that was set on fire by Palestinians as it entered the northern Palestinian West Bank city of Nablus, early on October 18, 2015, to visit and pray at Joseph's Tomb.(Photo: JAAFAR ASHTIYEH, AFP/Getty Images)
The Israeli military on Sunday said it removed 30 Jews who illegally entered a West Bank holy site<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that was recently torched by Palestinians.
It came as Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he will meet<span style="color: Red;">*</span>with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas this week<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to try and ease tensions<span style="color: Red;">*</span>following weeks of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>violence, the Associated Press reported.
The military said the Jewish worshipers arrived at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus without a permit, according to the AP. The site is revered by some Jews as the tomb of the biblical figure<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Joseph.
The area is under<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Palestinian control but Jewish worshipers are allowed to pray there if their visit is<span style="color: Red;">*</span>coordinated with authorities.
Violence erupted after<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the 30 were confronted by Palestinians, Israeli<span style="color: Red;">*</span>media reported.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The military removed the Jewish worshipers from the site<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in consultation with Palestinian security forces. One worshiper was lightly wounded and five were taken for police questioning, the AP said.
Palestinians set fire to the holy site<span style="color: Red;">*</span>late Thursday after the militant group Hamas called for a "day of rage" against Israel. The blaze was extinguished by Palestinian security forces. Abbas condemned the attack and called for an investigation.
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The tomb has become a popular prayer site in recent years among some religious Jews.
Pope Francis called for an end to the violence<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in Israel on Sunday, saying the moment called for "much courage and much strength of spirit to say no to hatred and revenge."
Saturday, four Palestinians were shot and killed by Israelis in separate stabbing incidents in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Over the last month, eight Israelis were killed in attacks by Palestinians and 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, including 19 described by Israel as attackers. The rest in clashes with Israeli troops.
In remarks broadcast Sunday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Hassan Nasrallah,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, called the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>unrest<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a “renewed intifada,” and described<span style="color: Red;">*</span>it as the hope for salvation for the Palestinians, the AP reported.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 and remain enemies.
Nasrallah<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said the attacks on Israelis were<span style="color: Red;">*</span>carried out by a “new generation” of Palestinians who believe in “resistance" and added:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>“It is everyone’s responsibility to stand by it and help it, each with their own capabilities, abilities and circumstances,” according to the AP.
The violence<span style="color: Red;">*</span>began<span style="color: Red;">*</span>over the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Jewish New Year, fueled by rumors that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, a hilltop area<span style="color: Red;">*</span>revered by Jews as the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Temple Mount<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and home to the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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Palestinians torch Joseph's Tomb ahead of 'rage' day
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