Two vandals at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, as recorded on CCTV. Photo: Tomb of Patriarchs Administration.

Two Palestinians were arrested Sunday night for an act of vandalism they committed in the Cave of the Patriarchs. The two were recorded on security cameras tearing a mezuzah off a wall in the hall of Yaacov and Leah. The police acted quickly and apprehended the two suspects, catching them red-handed.

Superintendent Barak Arusi, commander of the police unit guarding the site, said the two 20-year olds were charged with attempted theft and with attempting to offend religious sentiments. During questioning one of the detainees denied his involvement, but the second admitted to the charges and implicated his accomplice. They are both being held in police custody.

Two vandals being apprehended at the Tomb of the Patriarchs. Photo: Tomb of Patriarchs Administration.

The incident is the fourth reported act of desecration of Jewish religious symbols by Arabs at the site committed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Tazpit News Agency reported yesterday on the third desecration of mezuzahs by Muslims frequenting the Tomb of the Patriarchs. Following the previous incident, Muslims aged 18 to 35 were barred from entering the Tomb of the Patriarchs for a short while, but Major General Nitzan Alon, Head of the IDF’s Central Command, rescinded the directive.

A short while later, the two vandals were caught desecrating the site.