IDF neutralizes bomb found at Hebron holy site

After a bomb was found near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron on Sunday, the army closed the area so that sappers could destroy the device.

By: World Israel News Staff

An area in Hebron surrounding a site considered holy by Jews and Muslims alike was closed for over an hour on Sunday so that an improvised explosive device (IED) containing two gas canisters could be detonated.

Sappers were called into the area and were able to neutralize the homemade bomb, which was found adjacent to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, where border police first identified the package containing the device. In line with normal Israeli protocol in such situations, the area was cleared of all bystanders.

Border police found the bomb near an entrance to the site used by Muslims. While the Tomb of the Patriarchs is holy to both faiths, Palestinian terror in Hebron led to separation of the Israeli and Arab populations in the city. This extends to the Tomb, with Jewish worshipers and Muslims using different areas of the holy site.

“In the area of the tomb, there is unique coexistence that the security forces, including border police, protect with the goal of allowing freedom of worship and religion to both Jews and Muslims at the Tomb of the Patriarchs,” police announced in a post-incident statement, reported the Times of Israel.

“The soldiers will continue to work with determination and professionalism to protect the security of all the citizens, residents and visitors to the site,” the police said, adding that an investigation had been launched.