Arabs living under the Palestinian Authority’s rule have completed the takeover of a compound at the "Hasmonean Palaces" archaeological site that includes an ancient Jewish cemetary, in the Judean desert, as the illegal construction of two luxury villas and a huge hall adjacent to the archaeological site has recently been completed.
The Hasmonean palaces are a complex of palaces, buildings, and fortresses, and a massive graveyard built by the first of the Hasmonean kingdom after the Judean revolt against the Greek Seleucids in the Jericho Valley. The unique site that displays the splendor of the construction works in the Land of Israel during this period and was the primary inspiration for Herod's massive construction works, was identified in archaeological excavations over 100 years ago. In the 1970s, additional excavations took place at the site and a huge site was uncovered that includes several buildings that served as winter palaces for King Herod, as well as swimming pools, a large farm, and aqueducts.
Revisionist history 101: Ancient Jewish settlement in Binyamin designated as archaeological site was destroyed & sealed for illegal construction of Palestinian structures, built w/assistance of European funding. Concrete poured into underground cavity caused irreparable damage. https://t.co/5YTJl5wsDy
— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) March 13, 2023
Under the Oslo Accords, the site was included in Area C, which is under Israeli control, but part of it, and even the road leading to it, remained in Palestinian controlled Area A. As a result, despite the area falling under Israeli sovereignty, Jews were forbidden to access the compound and could only do so when the entry was organized with the coordination of the Israel Defense Forces and under heavy security, for a few short hours. Over the years, the archaeological site suffered from severe neglect, when the excavation was mostly exposed, without proper care.
In recent years, the Israeli Benjamin regional Council has invested many resources in the restoration of the Hasmonean palaces and the accessibility of the place for tourism, and today it is indeed possible to reach it, still through IDF security coordination. Meanwhile, over the last decade there has been accelerated construction by the Palestinians from the city of Jericho throughout the region, which includes construction and agricultural sites in area C which is on Israeli land, and on top of the ancient complex of palaces.
In the last year alone, massive construction of no less than 15 illegal buildings was recorded on the only access road to the site. The works are being done illegally while causing heavy damage to the archaeological site and the antiquities found in and around it, and are choking the only access to it.
The European Union are always funding illegal Palestinian construction in Area C
— Soccer Facts (@Soccer_Stats) March 13, 2023
Shame on them!
In aerial photos taken a few years back, it is clear that there is no construction on the site, and in photos from January 2023, you can see 15 new buildings in various stages of construction, some of them luxurious villas with pools and backyards.
About three and a half years ago, hikers who reached the area of the significant archaeological site, identified a huge burial cave, after it was uncovered during earthworks carried out for illegal agricultural work. The alcoves of the cave were badly damaged and hundreds of broken human bones were rolled in the fresh dirt. According to reports from Arab locals, the coffins in it were robbed from the place.
Pay-for-slay was bad enough, but now with slay-to-stay the Palestinian Authority is authorizing construction of 100 luxury homes for terrorists that served at least 5 years in an Israeli prison.
— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) March 21, 2023
The PA must be held accountable for its glorification & compensation of terrorists. pic.twitter.com/BJkCSIIZay
The Palestinian Authority employs a policy of either destroying Ancient Jewish artifacts and structures, or applying to UNESCO to have them named as heritage sites under Palestinian control. The most aggregious of these efforts came last year when the PA applied to have the Samarian-based site that was the seat of the ancient kingdom of Israel named as a Palestinian Heritage Site. From looting the graves of those buried within the Israelite complex to building structures on top of other sites in order to hide any Jewish connection to the land, the efforts of the Palestinians to whitewash history are numerous.
