Over the past several days, Staff Officer for Archeology (SOA) inspectors within the Civil Administration carried out enforcement operations in the Tel Aroma archaeological site in Samaria, located in Area B, which is under Palestinian civilian control. This is a relatively rare operation since, up until several months ago, the Civil Administration refrained from enforcing violations of archaeological sites not located in Area C, which is in full Israeli control.
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"Tel Aroma" is a biblical site mentioned in the Book of Judges and a Hasmonean fortress city. It overlooks the Itamar Ridge and has been suffering from extensive destruction of its archaeology. Among other incidents, it was discovered that a Hasmonean fortification wall with a unique Herodian addition of decorated stones was stolen. About a year ago, Israel Hayom revealed that the Palestinian Authority planned to build a Palestinian heritage site and a mosque commemorating the shahids (martyrs) at the location. This plan was considered "terrorism aimed at harming Jewish history" by Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council.
Video: Rare collection of coins found / Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority
The "Shomrim al Hanetzach" (Preserving the Eternal) organization says that last week, the Civil Administration personnel confiscated an excavator used at the site to pave an illegal road while destroying archaeological finds. As a result of the excavator's confiscation, the violations were stopped.
The Civil Administration has recently changed its policy and began operating in Area B as well, where violations of antiquities laws and archaeological site destruction occur. Several months ago, Israel Hayom reported that the Civil Administration operated in the Khirbet Turpin ruins, also located in Area B. At the beginning of this month, SOA personnel operated in Khirbet Turpin again, confiscating four vehicles and arresting looters at the scene.
"We welcome the new trend," Moshe Gutman, chairman of Preserving the Eternal, noted. He said, "The State of Israel has understood that it is also responsible for heritage sites located in Area B. The policy change that began in Khirbet Turpin is spreading throughout Judea and Samaria, led by the political echelon. We hope to see more and more effective enforcement operations such as these. The heritage belongs to us all."
The Israeli government declared a stated goal to act against the phenomenon of archaeological site destruction in Judea and Samaria and preserve the Jewish heritage in the region. Last week, as was published by Israel Hayom, the government approved a massive plan to combat the destruction of antiquities, allocating NIS 120 million ($32 million) to the cause.
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