Archaeology as a political tool

Israeli soldiers visiting the City of David

On an "alternative tour" of the "City of David" park just outside the Old City of Jerusalem, we learned how archaeology is being used as a political tool by the State of  Israel, to focus on Jewish history to the exclusion of all the other layers of history at the site. The tour was organized by a group of archaeologists and activists called Emek Shaveh, which opposes "attempts to use archaeological finds to legitimize acts that disenfranchise communities."

Yonathan Mizrachi

"Biblical Jerusalem is here," said our guide, Israeli archaeologist Yonathan Mizrachi. He says, however, that no tenth century BC structures of David or Solomon have been found, and the only names on inscriptions are upper class figures, not royalty. He says a settler organization called Elad operates the archaeological site, so it is easy for it to incorporate Jewish settlers in the Palestinian community of Silwan, where the park is located.  Yonathan says Silwan is built on many layers, yet the government is focusing only on the Jewish history, not the thousands of years and dozens of civilizations that existed there.

Partial view of Silwan from the City of David

Old wall of Jerusalem (lower right) and current city wall (top)

One of the Israeli settler houses in the middle of Silwan, with flag and sentry box 

Ahmad Qaraeen with picture of settlers

Yonathan said Elad is excavating a horizontal tunnel under the homes and streets of Silwan that has no archaeological value.
Our tour ended at the Silwan Information Center, where Ahmad Qaraeen, director of the Madaa Cultural Center, told us of his own problems with excavations: "My home was shaking all the time for 14 months." He said some houses developed serious cracks in their kitchens and bathrooms. When the residents went to court, he says "The judge said the Jews have a right to find their history." Ahmad says Silwan  has been occupied twice: by Israel in 1967, and by Israeli settlers since 1991.  He showed us a picture of settlers who gained occupancy of most of a house, leaving the owner with just two rooms and making him get permission from the guards to enter or leave. He said owners of 88 homes are fighting demolition orders that would take the houses to make way for "King David's Garden." Ahmad says, "Many peoples were here between King David's time and 1991. They all deserve respect."