Stirring Disputes in the Holy Land: 2023's Contentious Archaeological Findings
Intensification of contest over biblical archaeology as Israeli scholars encounter academic sanctions
In a divisive turn of events, Israel-based archaeologists find themselves barred by a leading academic journal, the Palestine Exploration Quarterly (PEQ), from submitting papers on Judea and Samaria unless they've collaborated with the Palestinian authorities. Critics call this move a microcosm of the ongoing attempts to undermine Jewish historical ties to the Land of Israel.
Tel Aviv witnessed the heated debate, as reported by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL). The journal's editor-in-chief, Charlotte Whiting, revealed that the PEF, who are bound by international law, has implemented ethical policies that restrict submissions from researchers affiliated with institutions within "occupied territories."
In response, Israeli advocates are working to mark and preserve ancient landmarks. One example includes adding an Israeli flag and a menorah to a building dating back 3,500 years, constructed by King Herod, in order to reinforce its Jewish identity.
The Palestinian Authority continues to spearhead efforts to rewrite history in the United Nations, with organizations such as UNESCO lending support. These attempts extend to registering sacred Jewish sites, like the Cave of the Patriarchs, under the "State of Palestine" and renaming archaeological sites as "World Heritage Sites in Palestine."
The Palestinian Authority's goal is to delegitimize Jewish historical ties to the land, a tactic aimed at undermining Israel's legal, moral, and historical right to sovereignty over the Holy Land.
Across the landscape of the Holy Land, Israeli archaeologists unearth findings that trace Jewish roots to the land, creating a tangible connection to biblical history. This ongoing struggle to preserve these sites is a vital battle over narratives, legitimacy, and identity.
To combat the erasure of Jewish heritage sites, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $33 million program to safeguard and rehabilitate archaeological sites in the biblical heartland.
Amelie Botbol, a freelance journalist based in Tel Aviv, covers the ongoing disputes, providing insights into this contentious battle over history, identity, and land in the Holy Land.
- Amidst the political turmoil, Aviv, a freelance journalist based in Tel Aviv, is meticulously documenting the exploration and excavation efforts by Israeli archaeologists in the Holy Land, creating a tangible connection to biblical history.
- The Palestinian Authority's aggressive push in the United Nations, supported by organizations like UNESCO, aims to leverage technology to delegitimize Jewish historical ties to the land by registering and renaming Jewish sites, a move that Israeli advocates believe undermines their legal, moral, and historical right to sovereignty over the Holy Land.
- With the controversy surrounding the Palestine Exploration Quarterly's ethics policy, Israeli archaeologists are facing challenging decisions in their quest for academic freedom and the preservation of Jewish heritage sites. The heated debates about the politicization of historical narratives threaten to obscure the ongoing exploration of the Holy Land.
- Under the looming shadow of a compromised academic quarterly journal and ongoing attempts to undermine Jewish history, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a significant investment in a $33 million program to safeguard and rehabilitate ancient landmarks, ensuring continued exploration and preservation of Jewish heritage sites in the Holy Land.
