Israeli archaeological excavations in the West Bank have not been unveiled – High Court – Israel News



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The High Court decides that the identity of archaeologists and the excavations carried out in the West Bank remain confidential

The Hasmonean funerary caves allegedly looted by local Arabs in Jericho.
(photo credit: YEDIDYA NEEMAN)

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Two leftist NGOs, Yesh Din and Emek Shaveh, have filed a petition under the Freedom of Information Act to reveal the identity of archaeological sites and archaeologists working in the West Bank. According to Emek Shaveh, the High Court has decided to conceal the identity of places and archaeologists.

Archaeologists and archaeological sites are only disclosed by the government if

When the organizations appealed the decisions, the court dismissed the petition late May because disclosure of the archaeologist's names could affect them negatively if there was a university boycott.

According to the 1954 Hague Convention, an occupying power is prohibited from removing archaeological finds from an occupied territory. However, the Israeli government disputes the claim that it occupies the West Bank. The West Bank "does not correspond to the type of forced population transfer envisaged" by the Fourth Geneva Convention and argues that the West Bank has "no prior legitimate sovereignty," according to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organizations like Amnesty International rely on the same Geneva convention to interpret Israel's violation of international law.

The minority opinion, Judge Baron, agreed with the petitioners and said: "There is no democracy without a free and vital market of ideas and opinions; and to prevent a public speech in advance for fear of criticism, and even a boycott, constitutes a real danger to the democratic values ​​to which the State of Israel adheres.

"Silencing the public discourse could prevent a short-term boycott, but in the long run, such silence will certainly undermine Israel's ability to respond to criticism it wants," he said. he.

Emek Shaveh argued that "a set of laws can not be applied in Israel, where archaeological research and discoveries are available and made known to the public, while archaeological excavations and discoveries discovered in the West Bank are treated as a secret state. "

The law implies that there is a law on information inside the Green Line and another law in Israel, said Emek Shaveh in his press release.

According to their website, Emek Shaveh's mission is to protect "cultural heritage rights and ancient sites as public property belonging to members of all communities, religions and peoples". Yesh Din focuses on improving human rights in the West Bank and Gaza.

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