Exposure:
Antiquities robbers hit the Sebastia antiquities site in Samaria and caused vandalism, according to the official page of the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The damage - according to the report and photos attached to the post, which was found by guides from the Samaria Tour and Study Center and the "Guardians of Eternity" organization - occurred about a month ago in the Roman theater area, one of the most impressive areas in this important archeological site.
Most of the damage was done to the stairs and seats in the theater, some of which were uprooted by the robbers, who dug under them in search of antiquities.
The robbers also uncovered a water system, which on initial inspection looks ancient, which was not known to this day and was only discovered when their excavations were discovered.
"This is a significant and serious damage to a site of enormous importance," says Dr. Aharon Tabger, an archaeologist in the Department of Archeology at Ariel University in Samaria. The Sebastia Theater is one of the largest Roman theaters in the world, which is almost completely preserved.
Shomron Regional Council Chairman Yossi Dagan, Photo: Gideon Markovich
In the same message on the Facebook page, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announces that in coordination with the Sebastia municipality they have begun the process of restoring the place and returning it to what it was before it was looted and vandalized - a move that is in complete violation of Oslo Accords. At the archeological sites.
The head of the Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan, said: "For years I have been warning and shouting about the disgrace in ancient Samaria, but now this has reached its peak. This place is the responsibility of the Civil Administration, but there is no enforcement and no governance. The Palestinian Authority is occupying Jewish historical sites .
Adi Shragai, activity coordinator at Eternal Preservers, said: "Once again proof of the sad fact that the Civil Administration is failing to preserve the heritage sites. The government must adopt the national emergency plan to protect the heritage sites we have presented to it."
The Unit for the Coordination of Government Operations in the Occupied Territories responded: "The Civil Administration considers the destruction and destruction of archeological sites in the Judea and Samaria area very serious. As a result, monitoring and enforcement operations were carried out at the site."
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
