East of Jerusalem, the archaeological site of the City of David is enjoying increasing success. But often in the Holy City, politics is not far from archaeology. For Israeli nationalists, the existence of the Jewish city in ancient times legitimizes the annexation of this district claimed by the Palestinians.
Tens of thousands of Israeli and foreign tourists annually visit the ruins of what was once the capital of a Judean king who ruled for ten centuries BC. The archaeological site, located below the Western Wall and the esplanade of the mosques, has become one of the busiest in Israel in recent years.
For Schmouel Bober, a French-speaking guide who often takes groups of tourists there, interest in the place is above all historical and scientific:
“The heart of Jerusalem starts from here. The British were the first to excavate there in the 19th century. We weren’t talking about politics then, it was 100 years before the state of Israel. There are people from all over the world. I met an archaeologist from Italy two weeks ago, when she was digging here, she said. I think she’s not thinking about politics, she’s thinking about science. Then, recovery is another thing that we can do on site.
Territory claimed by Israel
For Israel, the City of David represents a capital political tool because the site is located in the eastern part of Jerusalem, captured in 1967. For Israeli nationalists, this legitimizes the annexation of this district claimed by the Palestinians.
Jerusalem City Hall is investing huge sums to attract more tourists to the area, which is already home to hundreds of Jewish nationalists like Talia Cohen:
“They’re going to build a place to hold exhibits, a parking lot and a Bible museum. Also, there’s going to be a cable car to reduce bus traffic. Own.”
The only holy city of the Israelites
He fully accepts the expansionist policy implemented by his government. Like the majority of Israelis, he refuses to share the city with the Palestinians:
“It’s in our blood and DNA, we’ve never had another place. The Jews are not nostalgic for Jerusalem and many cities. No, this is the only place they are nostalgic for, we have only one holy place. Now we have many holy cities or Jerusalem as the third holy city. I’m being asked to justify myself in front of the speculators. Frankly, it makes me laugh, like someone walking into my house and saying I’m going to prove this now. Your house.”
Last May, City of David archaeologists discovered a tablet with a 2,000-year-old Hebrew inscription. The event was hailed by all Israeli nationalists.
A vast expansion plan
The development of the City of David is part of a larger project. Since 1967, Israel has expanded settlements in Arab Jerusalem, following a very precise strategy described by Kamil Cohen, a spokesman for the NGO Ir Amim:
“It would create a built-up and compacted area on the border of East Jerusalem, and it would have a very negative impact on the possibility of having a viable, continuous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital along with the western part of the city. Since 1967, this area has been considered a red line by the international community. . . because it has great implications for any possible resolution of the conflict.”
Radio subject: Stephen Amar
Web Adaptation: Carlotta Macarini
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