Israel Exploits Antiquities Research in Palestine to Expand its Occupation
Israel is using archaeological research in Palestine as a means to further its occupation in the region, distorting data and results to align with its agenda, according to a theologian specializing in religious archaeology.
A Unique Approach to Archaeology
Dr. Bilal Toprak, a faculty member at Duzce University, explains that while other nations use archaeology for ideological purposes, Israel takes a more aggressive approach. Instead of preserving historical sites, Israel uses archaeological findings to strengthen its claim of ownership over uninhabited land for the past 2000 years. This approach serves as a tool for “colonization, denial, and erasure,” as Toprak states.
Toprak argues that European Jews chose Palestine as their homeland based on their religious beliefs, specifically the expectation that they would gather there when the Messiah arrived. He also points out that even though Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, was a secular politician, he made religious references after taking office, demonstrating the exploitation of religion and scriptures for political purposes.
Archaeology as a Tool for Occupation and Colonization
Toprak highlights the significance of place names in Israel’s colonization efforts. Hebrew and biblical names were given to areas that had been ruled by Muslims for about a thousand years. Only structures related to Judeo-Christian history were focused on, erasing the presence of Palestinian villages.
One example of Israel using archaeology as a tool for occupation and colonization is the ancient mountain fortress of Masada in Southeast Israel. Israeli Commander Yigil Yadin excavated the site in the 1960s to emphasize the resistance of Jewish people against the Romans. The symbol of Masada’s defiance is still used by Israeli soldiers today. However, Toprak points out that the excavations only revealed 25 graves, with no evidence of the mass suicide that is often associated with the fortress.
Erasing Palestinian Culture
Toprak argues that Israel also seeks to erase the cultural fabric of Palestinians in the areas it controls. He mentions the planting of forests in West Jerusalem where Palestinian villages once stood. For example, the Martyrs’ Forest on the outskirts of the city was cultivated in 1951 by the Jewish National Fund.
Efforts to legitimize the occupation through archaeological data have been ongoing since the British control of Palestine. The Palestine Exploration Fund, established in Britain in 1865, played a role in mapping the region. American theologian and archaeologist William Albright also contributed to the foundations of Zionism in the 1920s, drawing connections between the Holy Land experience of the United States and the legend of the Jewish people’s return to Palestine.
Using Archaeology to Reinforce Claims of Ownership
Toprak emphasizes that archaeology is a crucial tool for interpretation, understanding, and constructing the past. Museums in Israel, such as the Israel Museum, the Museum of the Jewish People, and the Bible Lands Museum, effectively demonstrate this use of archaeology. By creating time periods like the “Israeli era” and the “Hebrew era,” Israel claims a great civilization in the past and reinforces its current ownership of the land.
