Residents Stop Palestinian Road to Joshua's Altar

Residents of Givat Mitzpeh Yehoshua on Har Eival in Shomron spotted several pieces of heavy machinery this morning (Thursday) working to carve what they say was a gravel road from the city of Shechem toward the nearby Joshua's Altar archaeological site. The residents reported the construction to security forces and headed toward the location, after which the work stopped and one vehicle was confiscated.

According to the residents' account, the machinery was operating in Area C, in a zone where previous attempts have been made to pave a route from Shechem to the ancient site. Upon identifying the work, residents alerted the security coordinator of the neighboring community, notified the army, and descended toward the equipment to halt the operation.

The residents say that the moment the operators noticed them approaching, they stopped work and fled quickly toward Shechem. One piece of equipment was caught and seized, and in this way, according to the residents, further paving of the route toward the altar was prevented.

Arab workers attempting to carve the road (Photo: Courtesy)

According to residents of the hilltop, this is not the first such incident in the area. In the past, they say, repeated attempts have been made by the Palestinian Authority to pave the road from Shechem to Joshua's Altar, but resident activity and army patrols have prevented completion of the work.

"Recently we've been identifying unusual heavy-equipment activity in the area, and it appears the Palestinian Authority is trying to revive its takeover plan for the Joshua's Altar site here on Har Eival," residents reported.

The residents linked the struggle over the site to the memory of Benayahu Melet hy"d, who fell in a terror attack near Havat Gilad three months ago and, according to them, was among the leaders of the effort to prevent the road's construction.

"He the fight to stop the plan, and after his murder we decided to establish a settlement outpost here near the altar, out of an understanding that this is the only way to permanently halt the plan, and the results are visible on the ground," one resident said.

Residents further claim that in recent years the Palestinian Authority has intensified attempts to operate at historic sites and around water sources in Shomron and the Jordan Valley. Among the sites they mentioned are Tel Aruma, the Hasmonean palaces in Jericho, the springs of Wadi Zerqa in Binyamin, and Nahal Kanah in western Shomron.

According to them, the establishment of the settlement outpost near Joshua's Altar is intended to enable a permanent presence in the area and to prevent further attempts to pave the route toward the site.