AL JAZEERAH blasts Israeli archaeology in an article by Kevin Chamberlain ("Stealing Palestinian History") which was originally published in thisweekinpalestine.com. A few comments:

When a site is uncovered the Israelis institute a ‘salvage excavation,’ i.e. the rapid removal and recording of artefacts before the site is covered up. In most cases this results in the destruction of the site, although occasionally the site is covered up but not destroyed for future investigation, e.g. in the case of an important mosaic floor. Nevertheless the effect of these ‘salvage excavations’ is that the all-important context of the site is destroyed and the knowledge that it yields is lost forever. Such excavations fall under the authority of the archaeological staff officer, who is an officer of the Civil Administration (i.e. the Israeli military).

Mr. Chamberlain's characteriztion of salvage archaeology is quite misleading and unfair. Salvage archaeology is often necessary, even if it is not the ideal situation, and it is a common practice outside of Israel as well. Indeed, it is the most common type of archaeology practiced in North America. See also here and here. And here's an example in Arkansas. And there's a really cool British television show called the Time Team, which deals with salvage archaeology in Britain, a different site each week. Here, for example, is a summary of their emergency excavation of the Wemyss caves (pronounced "Weems") in Fife, which are threatened by sea erosion. I live not far from this site and have visited it with my family.

In addition to the loss of Palestine’s movable heritage there has also been extensive damage to, and destruction of, immovable cultural heritage. The press release of the World Archaeological Congress issued on 7 January 2004 expressed concern at the destruction of archaeological and heritage sites in the OPTs by Israeli forces, mentioning Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron.

Regarding the statement of the World Archaeological Congress, there is a detailed reply by Dr. Uzi Dahari, Deputy Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, here.

The Art Newspaper article mentioned in the piece was actually published in 2002, not September of this year. You can read the Forbes reprint of it in this Google cache item. A great deal has been written about the Israeli invasion of the West Bank in the spring of 2002. I'll just refer you to the UN Secretary-General's report and you can draw your own conclusions.