Why Israel should be expelled from the World Archeological Congress (2)

Israeli army steals historical artifact from northern part of the West Bank
May 27, 2008 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Whilst in Palestine 2003 to 2005, I volunteered with a local group, Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange (PACE). Its director Dr. Adel Yahya told me how the Israeli authorities had lifted by helicopters Roman columns from a Palestinian village and taken them to the nearby Israeli settlement of Bet El. To tell the truth I was sceptical about this. It just seemed too far fetched. I admired Dr. Yahya and his work but I doubted the possibility that the Israeli authorities would do such a thing as I am sure many of you would. Reading the article below made me feel terrible to have doubted our friend. 
(Personal note from Miriam)
 
Palestinian sources reported on Tuesday that the Israeli antiquities department under the protection of the Israeli army stole a stone coffin from the village of Sabastya, located near the city of Nablus in the northern part of the West Bank.

sabastyaSebastya village has archaeological sites that date back 3000 years, including artifacts from the Canaanite, Roman, Byzantine, Phoenician and Islamic periods.

Dergham Farees, from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Nablus, told IMEMC that the Israeli antiquities department along with the Israeli army started digging a site in the village last Wednesday and they finished on Monday of this week.

Witnesses told media that the army has removed a stone coffin with symbols on it, and then took it away. Farees told IMEMC that the army and the Israeli government used the fact that the Palestinian village is located in area (C ), over which the Palestinian Authority holds no control and which is still being occupied by the Israeli army, to take the artifact and bring it to the nearby Israeli settlement.

According to international law, the occupation forces are not allowed to move or destroy archaeological sites that belong to the occupied nation. The UN recognizes the West Bank as an occupied area.

Full report in IMEMC