At the end of a complex operation: Palestinian antiquities dealers were caught Israel today

At the end of a secret and complex activity:

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Following the arrest of an antiquities dealer several months ago, the CMT Archeology Unit in the Civil Administration (which is responsible for safeguarding the antiquities of Judea and Samaria) in cooperation with the Investigations and Intelligence Division of the IOSH Police Department, began an undercover investigation against a number of antiquities dealers and brokers, who are engaged in the trade Illegal in the Samaria region.

Goods worth hundreds of thousands of shekels.

The confiscated antiquities, photo: Dovrot Matafash

It has now been published that last night (Sunday) the KMT Archeology Unit, together with the Directorate of Coordination and Liaison to Nablus, raided the villages: Burka, Havara and Silat a-Dahar in the Samaria sector. Along with them, MGB fighters also participated in the raid in cooperation with Hatmar Samaria  

During the raid, three suspects were arrested in the antiquities trade in the area, as well as another suspect who acted as an intermediary between squads of antiquities robbers in the area.

Also, archaeological finds worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, which were held illegally, were confiscated.

The suspects, Palestinian residents of Samaria, were transferred together with the findings for investigation at the Border Guard and the Civil Administration.

More of the items that were confiscated, photo: Dovrot Matpash

As part of the covert operation, which took place as part of the extensive activity led by the CMT Archeology Unit in the Civil Administration, dozens of architectural-archaeological items were seized, including: cloth houses, coins, stone doors from the Roman and Byzantine periods, ancient tools from the Iron Age and the early Muslim period, as well as metal detecting devices which were used by the suspects In addition, an illegal weapon was also discovered at one of the targets.

"We will not hesitate to do whatever it takes"

The head of the Civil Administration, Lt. Col. Fars Atila said that "The Civil Administration will continue to act to protect the archaeological sites and natural treasures in Judea and Samaria. We will not hesitate to do what is required against those who try to damage these sites; this is our duty."

Area Commander of the IOSH Police Department, Sub-Commissioner Jihad Hassan: "The antiquities of our country are a national and historical asset, we will continue to work together with all the parties for the preservation of the antiquities, the prevention of the illegal trade, and the destruction of ancient sites."

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