First Person: Barred from the City of David

I have been writing about the City of David for more than 35 years. The major excavations of Yigal Shiloh between 1978 and 1985 were undertaken as a result of a book I wrote. In that sense, I created the site. So it is no small thing to me that General Shuka Dorfman, the current director of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), has instructed Ronny Reich, who codirects the current excavations near the Pool of Siloam with Eli Shukron, to bar me from the site.^a Shuka, as everyone calls him, is mad at me. It has something to do with the famous James Ossuary (inscribed “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”), which was first published in BAR by Sorbonne scholar André Lemaire in 2002.^b I cannot be more specific about why Shuka is so angry because he won’t tell me. He won’t speak to me. What is clear is that it has nothing to do with the City of David or its excavation. At a meeting of Israel’s Archaeological Council, council members suggested he talk to me, but Shuka rejected their advice; he remains obdurate. After all, he’s a general; he is accustomed to commanding, not taking suggestions.

Not long ago, someone offered to arrange a private tour for me of some of the excavations in the City of David (the oldest inhabited area of Jerusalem). But he was unable to obtain permission. He explained in an e-mail:

“I have been trying again and again to arrange for the City of David visitors’ center to allow us access to new excavation areas, which I thought you’d be interested in seeing. Unfortunately, the fear of Shuka Dorfman is upon them, and as you might have guessed, they have turned me down. Of course, they cannot stop us from visiting areas open to the general public. However, after the site is closed, they won’t allow me to bring you to areas that have closing hours. I know the people involved. They are good people. And they would truly like to give you VIP treatment, but the large shadow of Dorfman has them all in fear. The whole thing is really horrible.”

I take comfort, however, in knowing that I am not the only target of Shuka’s wrath. He had a budding young archaeologist named Zachi Zweig arrested for sifting some of the dirt dumped by the Muslim Waqf into the Kidron Valley after its illegal excavation on the Temple Mount. Zweig was thereafter released, and now this sifting project is producing hundreds of artifacts going back to the period of Solomon’s Temple.^c

Shuka also had senior archaeologist Hanan Eshel arrested (Israeli TV was called to publicize his arrest) for purchasing with money provided by his university a small Dead Sea Scroll from the Bedouin who found it. More than 50 leading Israeli archaeologists and scholars protested in a petition published in an Israeli newspaper.^d Although Eshel, too, was released, the case against him was not dropped for several years, despite the scholars’ protests.

When 20 prominent archaeologists wrote Shuka a letter protesting his plan for reconstructing the Mughrabi Gate up to the Temple Mount, Shuka simply ignored them. He did not deign even to answer their letter. He does not need to respond to criticism.

Shuka speaks by actions, not words. Thus is power wielded.

Talkback

Add Your Comment

A Gymnasium

Geoff Hudson — UK (11/11/2009 1:52:09 PM)

Dear Hershel, has anyone ever found the remains of a Greek gymnasium in Jerusalem?

• • • • • • •

Temple Mount/City of David

Jeri Barnhart — USA (11/11/2009 12:53:23 PM)

The fact the Muslims took a backhoe to the Temple Mount and indescretionarily dug, at great cost to the contents buried beneath the surface-apprears to speak volumes of what has been going on. The question that needs to be asked is "What are they so afraid of that they won't be who they were created to be - The Israeli Antiquities Authority." I'd give my eye-tooth to sift through the rubble dumped in the Kidron! I know some want to try to prove that the temples never exist on the mount area.

• • • • • • •

The Talpiot Tombs

James Brundage-Neill — United States of America (10/28/2009 9:49:25 PM)

It is with profound sadness that I have read everything I could lay my hands on about the Talpiot Tombs only to learn that the contents of the ossuaries associated with them were summarily reburied... contents that I have no doubt are the most significant archaeological finds that will ever be found in the history of the Christianized Western World.

• • • • • • •

Adolf Deissmann — (10/17/2009 1:58:08 AM)

I read the author's, The Mystery and Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the deepest interest, and it's ridiculous that this can happen. It's true that it's illegal to buy antiquities from unregistered sources, but I think the General's actions are completely ridiculous; archaeology's advancement is to be preferred over mundane laws. After all, the IAA made an exception with the DSS. Who put a general in charge of an archaeological site anyway?? Start the revolution! Depose the obstacle maker!

• • • • • • •