Second Temple Era Burial Caves Totally Neglected, Report Finds
Dozens of archeological sites in Jerusalem, including burial caves of kohanim (ritual priests) from the era of the Second Temple, are in a state of shocking neglect, according to a new report in Israel Hayom, to be published in full this Friday. The sites concerned have frequently been vandalized, often by Arabs for nationalistic reasons, and many also serve as meeting places for criminals and drug users.
Now, however, the sites have been mapped out by Yosef Speizer, a doctoral student whose focus is on the Land of Israel and its archeology at Bar Ilan University. Speizer is also a member of the Jerusalem City Council, representing the Hitorerut party.
According to Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, who has seen Speizer’s research, the issue has been neglected for decades. Now, he says, he will be approaching the Antiquities Authority in the hope that a budget can be allocated, which, he feels, is justified for nationalistic reasons.
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