The appearance of Rachel’s Tomb has been dramatically altered as a result of Israeli security concerns.
The familiar white dome of the tomb, located on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Bethlehem, is now hidden from view by a high wall of concrete topped by guard towers.
The $2 million renovation project, begun more than a year ago by Israel’s Religious Affairs Ministry, has resulted in a larger prayer area, which was jammed Tuesday by tens of thousands of Jews, most of them fervently Orthodox.
The area around Rachel’s Tomb has been the target of Palestinian protests for more than a year as the peace process foundered.
The familiar scenario of those protests was replayed Tuesday, when, a short distance from the tomb, Israeli soldiers clashed with young Palestinian stone- throwers.
A 9-year-old Palestinian boy was struck in the head by a rubber bullet and was reported to be unconscious and in critical condition Wednesday.
Palestinian witnesses said the soldier fired on the boy from a distance of 15 yards while the youths were running away. The Israeli army said the soldier was aiming at an older youth when the victim entered the line of fire.
Army sources said the soldiers opened fire only after Palestinian police in the self-rule town refused to step in to halt the unrest.
Three Palestinians were arrested during the clash, the army added.
The reopening of the tomb came on the traditional anniversary marking the death of the biblical matriarch Rachel.
Among those at the opening, which was marked by fervent prayer and religious music coming from loudspeakers, were Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi- Doron.
The tomb, which was built during the period of the Ottoman Empire in the style of Muslim tombs, was last renovated in the 19th century by the Jewish philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore.
Barren women often pray at the tomb because Rachel was childless for years before bearing children.
She also symbolizes exile because she died along the road and was not buried within any particular city.
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