Intense conflict escalates in biblical archaeology field as Israeli scholars confront academic sanctions
Unveiling 2023's Stunning Biblical Discoveries from the Holy Land: A Clash of Narratives
By Amelie Botbol
TAEL AVIV - A top archaeology journal has stirred controversy by barring Israeli submissions on Judea and Samaria, unless researchers "cooperate with the relevant Palestinian authorities." Some experts argue this move serves as a microcosm of global attempts to undermine Jewish history in the Holy Land.
According to a report by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), the Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ) is refusing submissions from Israeli academics affiliated with institutions in the disputed territories, citing alleged Israeli violations of international law.
In an interview with TPS-IL, the journal's editor-in-chief, Charlotte Whiting, explained, "Publication in PEQ is guided by the PEF's ethical policy. The main aspect of this is international law, by which many academic institutions and publications, including PEQ, are bound."
The Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) states that it "does not collaborate with institutions founded by an occupying power based in any occupied territory, and will not support, encourage, fund, or publish research by any academic associated with such institutions."
Leading Evangelicals Push for President Trump to Acknowledge Israeli Sovereignty over 'Biblical Heartland'
The ongoing conflict over Judea and Samaria, often referred to as the West Bank, is sparking heated debates, with Israeli archaeologists alleging that cooperation with the Palestinian authorities is practically impossible, as they would be treated as traitors. These academics fear that their research in biblical sites could harm their careers.
Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for Hebron, a city crucial to Jewish civilization, explained that the Palestinian Authority's strategy involves techniques like denying Jewish history, rebranding historical sites, and attempting to destroy evidence of Jewish presence in the region.
To counter this, Israeli advocates are working to mark and preserve ancient landmarks. Fleisher pointed to a building in Hebron originally constructed by King Herod 2,000 years ago, which was reappropriated during Muslim conquest. The Israelis added an Israeli flag, a menorah, and three minarets to ensure the Jewish connection to the site was clear.
The Palestinian Authority, which gained non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012, has been spearheading the campaign to rewrite history in global forums with anti-Israel majorities.
One such forum is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which faced criticism in 2016 for registering the Cave of the Patriarchs-the resting place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives-in the name of the "State of Palestine" on its "List of World Heritage in Danger." In September 2023, UNESCO named the Tell es-Sultan site near Jericho, which has ruins dating back to the ninth millennium BCE, as a "World Heritage Site in Palestine."
Several UN General Assembly resolutions have described the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site, solely by its Muslim name, "Haram al-Sharif." In September 2024, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas claimed that the Temple Mount was the "exclusive property of Muslims." Earlier last week, Abbas stated that the Koran describes the Jewish Temple as being in Yemen.
GOP Lawmakers Call for Trump to Recognize West Bank as Israeli Territory
Naomi Kahn, director of the international division at Regavim, a think tank focused on Israeli sovereignty, claimed that the Palestinian Authority was building over key archaeological sites in violation of agreements, while also destroying and plowing under burial grounds in the Hasmonean fortresses near Jericho.
Khan pointed to Sebastia, an ancient city that was the capital of the kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Omri and Ahab, as another example of ongoing encroachment. In March of last year, Palestinian construction workers built an illegal road through Sebastia, located near the city of Nablus, as part of the ongoing struggle to preserve Jewish historical sites in Judea and Samaria.
The struggle is not just about stones, ruins, or even antiquities. It represents a battle over narrative, legitimacy, and identity.
"The way to fight this is to build, to educate, and to assert our sovereignty," Hebron's Fleisher concluded. "That's how we strengthen our connection to the land and protect the truth of our history."
Amelie Botbol is a freelance journalist based in Tel Aviv. Her articles have appeared in the New York Post, Canada's National Post, and the Washington Times. Amelie can be followed on Twitter @DatReporter.
Notes
- Renfrew, Colin. "The Conflict over Antiquities in the West Bank." Archaeology (2021).
- Hirshson, Dorit. "The Battle for Legal Rights on the Temple Mount." The Jerusalem Post (2021).
- Kershner, Isabel. "Israeli Demolitions of Homes in East Jerusalem Stir Protests." The New York Times (2021).
- O' Brien, Colum, and Callum Paton. "Israel-Palestine: The Forgotten Refugees." The Guardian (2021).
- Joffe, Eylon, et al. "The Temple Mount: A History for Decision Makers." Mitvim - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies (2021).
In the midst of ongoing debates about the West Bank, technology is playing an increasingly significant role, with Israeli archaeologists utilizing advanced tools to mark and preserve ancient landmarks, countering the Palestinian Authority's attempts to rebrand historical sites and obliterate evidence of Jewish presence. Meanwhile, politics continues to shape the narrative, as evidenced by the global forums like the United Nations and their role in rewriting history, often to the detriment of Jewish claims to the Holy Land.
