Five Palestinians Caught Looting Ancient Site in Israel’s Judean Lowlands
In a recent incident, five Palestinians were apprehended while looting an archaeological site from the Second Temple period in Kherbet Umm A-Ros, located in the Judean Lowlands of central Israel. This site holds significant historical value, with remains from a Jewish community dating back to the Second Temple period and the Bar-Kochba revolt.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the arrests, emphasizing their commitment to protecting national heritage despite current challenges. Eli Escusido, Director of the IAA, stated, “In these difficult times, while many of our employees serve in the reserves, the IAA remains committed to safeguarding our national heritage. These robbers sought to exploit the current instability in Israel to steal from our past. Protecting our antiquities is a national mission.”
The looters, described as “antique pirates” from the Palestinian village of Zurif, were caught in the act of pillaging the underground system, which includes ancient storage chambers, cisterns, and a mikvah, a ritual purification bath carved into the rock. The group was found actively digging with metal detectors and tools, aiming to extract valuable artifacts like ancient coins.
Dr. Eitan Klein, Deputy Director of the IAA’s Robbery Prevention Unit, expressed relief at the arrests, saying, “Antiquities robbers travel from miles away, entering the country illegally, and then cause irreparable damage to our heritage. I’m glad we were able to catch these individuals before further harm was done. We will not let anyone steal our history from beneath our feet.”
Doubts Revealed
Palestinians -: Palestinians are people who come from Palestine, a region in the Middle East. They have their own culture and history.
Looting -: Looting means stealing things, especially during a time of chaos or from a place that is not protected.
Second Temple-period -: The Second Temple-period refers to a time in ancient history when the Second Temple stood in Jerusalem, from about 516 BCE to 70 CE. It is an important period for Jewish history.
Archaeological site -: An archaeological site is a place where people dig to find old things like buildings, tools, or other items from the past to learn about history.
Kherbet Umm A-Ros -: Kherbet Umm A-Ros is a specific location in Israel where ancient remains have been found. It is important for understanding history.
Israel Antiquities Authority -: The Israel Antiquities Authority is a group in Israel that takes care of old and important historical sites and artifacts to protect them for the future.
Zurif -: Zurif is a village in Palestine. People from this village were involved in the looting incident.
Metal detectors -: Metal detectors are tools used to find metal objects buried underground. They are often used by treasure hunters or in security checks.
National heritage -: National heritage refers to the important historical and cultural sites, traditions, and artifacts that belong to a country and are preserved for future generations.
