U.S. Lawmakers Join Thousands Overnight at Kever Yosef in Shechem

Thousands of Israelis entered Kever Yosef in Shechem overnight Monday into Tuesday, traveling in dozens of buses under heavy IDF and Israel Police security, as Kever Yosef is under Palestinian authority and Israeli civilians are prohibited by Israeli law from entering without military escort. Among them was a large delegation of twenty senior American lawmakers who arrived as part of an official visit to the Samaria region.

The visit came after a full day of touring Samaria with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, before the group continued into Shechem for midnight Tefilot at the tomb of Yosef Hatzadik. The lawmakers, who work with the council’s international relations department, have been advancing legislative initiatives encouraging the use of the term “Judea and Samaria” in official U.S. documents and expressing support for Israeli sovereignty in the area.

Dagan told the delegation that the location held deep meaning for Israel and for those who support it. “We draw strength from this holy place — to fight together for justice, to work hard together to build a true future for the United States of America, for Israel, and for the entire world,” he said. “We draw strength here from Joseph, from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and from God, to win the difficult war of our generation — the Zionist story.”

He added that the lawmakers’ support for using the biblical name “Judea and Samaria” was particularly significant. “We draw strength from this holy place to fight together and bring sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, the Land of the Bible — the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our land,” Dagan said. He thanked the delegation for standing with Samaria residents “against the false term ‘West Bank’” and blessed them with the Hebrew priestly blessing, “May God bless you and protect you,” prompting the group to respond “Amen” with visible emotion.

Jason Rapert, president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers and head of the delegation, reinforced the message. “We have elected officials here from Maine, Hawaii, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, and Tennessee,” he said. “Yossi, I want you to know that we stand with you — not only physically here, but in spirit.” Rapert also highlighted the joint initiative he leads with the Samaria Regional Council, which encourages the exclusive use of the term “Judea and Samaria” in official contexts.

Other members of the delegation expressed similar sentiments. Lana Theis of Michigan said, “We are here in the place where it all began… The core values of our country come from here… That is why we are grateful, proud, and committed to maintaining this bond and continuing to honor the sacred faith that exists here.”

Mark Dorazio, a representative from Texas, told the crowd, “We stand with Israel… We fully support the work you are doing… We are grateful that we can stand with you for Israel’s defense and for a sovereign Israel.”

At the close of the visit, Dagan thanked the IDF forces who secured the entry, including Central Command officers, Samaria Brigade troops, Border Police units, Israel Police, and volunteers from the Samaria Regional Council’s holy sites division, who accompanied the visit.