by Shimon Cohen
Read the sad and disturbing post by Natanel Elinson on why we are abandoning heritage sites in Judea and Samaria, why we are not excavating there and are not doing research there.
What an injustice. Have you ever wondered why there have been no
excavations by an Israeli University in Judea and Samaria for the past
forty years? Why archaeologists excavate small sites in the coastal
plain while the Jewish People’s largest heritage sites are left naked
and covered with thorns in the best case, or are pillaged by hundreds of
Palestinian antiquities robbers in the worst case?
We got the answer this week when the excavation by Doctor Dvir Raviv,
one of the most brilliant archaeologists that we have ever had, was
halted. It has been almost a year since Dvir Raviv planned the
excavation in Khirbet Tibnah.
Never heard of it? Then you should know that this ruin was the capital
of the Hasmonean Province of Samaria and before that, the city of Timnat
Heres, where Yehoshua Bin Nun lived at the end of his life.
Dvir obtained all of the permits, spent tens of thousands of shekels,
booked accommodations for the excavators, bought equipment and brought
in volunteers and only one day (!) before the excavation began, they
told him that it was impossible to go to the area – because some higher
authority decided that from now on, it will not be possible to excavate
in land under survey, even though no one claims ownership on it.
Now, I will not bore you with legal matters concerning lands, I will
only say that this land is totally “kosher”. It is in Area C, it is land
under survey (i.e., not private land!), the site had already been
designated by the British as an antiquity site, including accurate
coordinates, and there had even been a Jordanian camp there, and the
area of the excavation was between its communication ditches (!).
Meaning, it is simply that this is not private land. In short – the most “strictly kosher” kind of land.
But there is no vacuum. Meanwhile, all kinds of leftist NGOs are trying
to conjure something up - perhaps nevertheless, the archaeological tel
does belong to someone, even if it is clear that this cannot be.
And I will say something here as an aside. If a leftist objects to our
return to Judea and Samaria, that is his right. But to distort history
and heritage – this is just a distortion wrapped up in lies.
Eighty percent of the Bible takes place in Judea and Samaria. This is the reality. That is where our roots are.
I once took a tour of Samaria with one of the directors of a leftist NGO.
When we came to the overlook of Mount Gerizim, she opened the Bible and
told all those present about the strong connection we have as a people
to Nablus and Mount Gerizim.
I was moved. She told those present – “The fact that I think it is
forbidden to live there today does not cause me to blur the close
connection we have as a people to these places. It is not with joy that I
am willing to give up this area, but as someone who recognizes its
importance and nevertheless, am willing to sacrifice it for other
values.”
I respected her very much for this candidness and truth.
Why do a tell you this?
Because blocking Dvir Raviv’s excavation is dramatic. It is an attempt
to undermine our connection to the places where we developed as a
people. At any given moment in Judea and Samaria there are dozens, if
not hundreds of antiquities robbers who take a significant part of our
heritage from the belly of the earth – and no one makes a peep.
But when an archaeologist finally manages to raise money, mobilize
people and gets permits and tries in an organized and official manner to
uncover another layer of our past – they immediately stop him.
Most of the archaeologists until now have simply given up in discouragement.
Why do they need this headache? Why should they lose a year of
preparation and lose huge amounts of money, as happened just now to
Dvir? This is why they don’t do excavations in Judea and Samaria.
And so, most of the knowledge that we currently have on heritage sites
on the mountain come from American, British and German delegations. Yes,
yes, you heard correctly.
The State of Israel is not willing to touch our remnants of eternity,
and we must learn about them indirectly from foreign publications.
This is an injustice. It does not harm any Palestinian, it is not
connected to Right or Left, and it shows how we relate to the great
story that unites us.
What can be done?
Two things:
First, spread this post. Comment, respond, share, label.
Second, Dvir has gone on to excavate at a different site.
Khirbet Heiyeh, which is in the town of Itamar (now, it is permitted to
excavate only within Jewish communities, meaning, in about one
thousandth of the heritage sites in Judea and Samaria…).
This is a very important site that informs us of the Jewish diaspora
during the period of the Second Temple and the period of the Bar Kochba
Revolt.
Come and volunteer at the excavation. Even for one day. Bring the young ones. And yourself.
It is practical help as well as giving encouragement to Dvir and will show him that we are with him.
And along the way, you will get to meet Dvir, who is an amazing person
(and full disclosure, also a good friend) and be partner in revealing
yet another layer of our great story.
For details and to arrange for a time to come:
Nerya: 054-542-8580
A form with details and registration for alternative excavations in Khirbet Heiyeh in Itamar:
https://forms.gle/NsHiUD9Kw86tW1SL7
Translated from Hebrew by Sally Zahav for the Sovereignty Movement
Shimon Cohen
Source: https://www.ribonut.co.il/BlogPostID.aspx?BlogPostId=630&lang=1
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