Emek Shaveh

Samuel's Tomb in the Palestinian village of Nabi Samwil, occupied West Bank, April 28, 2014. (Keren Manor/Activestills)

Israel seizing West Bank heritage sites ‘piece by piece’

The army is expropriating thousands of dunams in Sebastia and Nabi Samwil, using archaeology as a pretext to further isolate Palestinian communities.

By Shatha Yaish July 24, 2026

The Givati Parking Lot excavation grounds next to the City of David National Park in the Palestinian village of Silwan, across the street from the Old City walls surrounding the Al Aqsa mosque compound, July 14, 2019. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

PODCAST: Excavating Israel’s underground settlements

On the latest episode, Israeli archeologist Yonathan Mizrahi talks about Israel's weaponization of archeology to expand Jewish settlement.

By Natasha Soffer-Roth January 20, 2022

The Dome of Rock is seen in the background of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City as thousands of Jewish worshippers participated in the Cohen Benediction priestly prayer for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, October 5, 2009. (Miriam Alster / FLASH90)

Israel spars with the world at UNESCO

The latest bout between Israel and UNESCO suggests that the world is warming up to Israel’s conflation of the Jewish people’s religious and historical connection to Jerusalem with its claim to exclusive sovereignty over the city. By Talya Ezrahi and Yonathan Mizrachi Israel’s success at UNESCO this week was a diplomatic coup. In a work of crafty…

By +972 Magazine May 5, 2017

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The visitor’s center at the West Bank archeological site of Shiloh, in the Israeli settlement of Shilo. (Mendy Hechtman/Flash90)

Because BDS, Israeli archeologists want West Bank work kept secret

An Israeli court rejects a freedom of information request for the names of archeologists digging, under IDF license, in the occupied territories, and where Israel is storing the antiquities they uncover. The reason: so they don’t face academic boycott. The Jerusalem District Court on Monday refused to reveal the names of archeologists performing digs at…

By Haggai Matar November 22, 2016

Archaeologists digging at a digging site of the remains of a citadel used by the Greeks more then 2,000 years ago to control the Temple Mount at the City of David near Jerusalem Old City on November 3, 2015, According to the Israeli Antiquities Authority the site was found under a parking lot a few years ago also know as Givati Parking Lot. (photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Israelis don’t understand Palestinian fears over Jerusalem

For Israelis, Jerusalem is an archaeological treasure. For Palestinians, it is a city whose heritage and identity are constantly under threat. By Yonathan Mizrachi It turns out that issues of identity, religion and recognition are far more critical to East Jerusalem Palestinians than what the Israeli Right and center would have us believe. A new…

By Haokets July 11, 2016

An ancient sewer in Silwan (photo: Emek Shaveh)

Israel’s very own tunnels of dread in Jerusalem

While everyone is preoccupied with the Hamas tunnels in Gaza, Israel continues to dig under Palestinian houses in Jerusalem. The excuses are questionable, residents are angry and fearful, and a religious conflagration appears imminent. By Orly Noy With the Hamas tunnels dominating the Israeli narrative for the past several weeks, their inherent danger horrifying the…

By Orly Noy September 6, 2014

The City of David archaeological park, against the background of Silwan (photo: JC/Activestills.org)

Tel Aviv University to cooperate with settler group on East Jerusalem dig

Tel Aviv University’s spokesperson refuses to explain why its archaeologists will work with Elad, an organization notorious for its pursuit of Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem. Haaretz reported on Thursday that Tel Aviv University’s Institute of Archaeology plans to start digging in al-Bustan, located in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, in cooperation with…

By Mairav Zonszein October 25, 2012