CNN)A group of Palestinians set fire overnight to a compound housing Joseph's Tomb -- a religious site in the West Bank venerated by Jews -- sparking condemnations from Palestinian and Israeli authorities.

The tomb appeared to be unharmed, but the fire marked another downturn in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after weeks of renewed violence, including the stabbings of Israeli civilians and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces.

Jews consider the site in Nablus the final resting place of Joseph, a high Israelite patriarch and son of Jacob who, according to biblical accounts, was sold into slavery as a boy but then rose to become a powerful figure in ancient Egypt, second only to the pharaoh.

Jewish devotees at times go to the tomb under Israel Defense Forces escort at night to pray. Christians also consider Joseph's Tomb a holy site. It's been targeted before -- including in 2011 when vandals painted swastikas on its walls.

According to a Palestinian official, people went to the site early Friday to erect a barricade to thwart Israeli troops from demolishing homes, a key bone of contention in the Mideast. Israeli officials say tearing down homes of terrorists can deter future attacks, while Palestinians see the tactic as unfair collective punishment that hurts innocent women and children.

At some point, a group tried to set fire to Joseph's Tomb, said the official, who did not want to be named.

But Palestinian security forces pushed out the crowd and managed to put out the fire.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/16/middle...nian-tensions/