|
Trending Topics
|
Israel Prevents Illegal Construction at Archaeological Sites in the West Bank
(Jerusalem Post) On Sunday, a unique site near the Palestinian town of Jericho dating back to the Second Temple period was saved from damage and destruction, the Archaeology Unit at the Civil Administration, Israel's governing body in the West Bank, said. During a routine patrol, Civil Administration officials identified construction taking place at the archaeological site and immediately confiscated the building materials. The site is littered with burial caves of three generations of Hasmoneans - the grandchildren and great grandchildren of the Hanukkah hero, priest Mattathias - who lived there a short time before the destruction of the Second Temple. Incidents like these are not uncommon. Last Thursday, illegal construction was also halted when a truck carrying equipment destined for a site near ancient Jewish burial caves was identified by officials.