BIG TROUBLE FOR ELAD?

Islamic-era skeletons 'disappeared' from Elad-sponsored dig
By Meron Rapoport (Haaretz)
Tags: archeology, Israel, Elad

Dozens of skeletons from the early Islamic period were discovered during excavations near the Temple Mount, on a site slated for construction by a right-wing Jewish organization. Contrary to regulations, the skeletons were removed, and were not reported to the Ministry of Religious Services. The Israel Antiquities Authority termed the incident "a serious mishap."

The IAA's Dr. Doron Ben Ami is directing the excavations at the Givati Parking Lot in Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood, across from the entrance to the Dung Gate. Elad, an association devoted to Judaizing East Jerusalem, is funding the dig at the site, where it plans to build an events hall with underground parking. The IAA is excavating there even though Elad never filed building plans with the planning authorities.

In recent weeks, workers excavating at a depth of two to three meters reached a layer from the 8th or 9th century C.E., some 200 years after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem. They discovered several dozen skeletons, skulls and bone fragments, thought to date from the early Islamic period. An IAA source said "dozens of crates" containing bone fragments were removed, which suggests at least 100 skeletons were found.

IAA regulations require that any graves discovered be reported immediately to the Religious Services Ministry and to Atra Kadisha, an ultra-Orthodox organization dedicated to preserving ancient Jewish grave sites. For some reason this discovery was not reported, and the skeletal remains were carted away before ministry officials arrived to inspect the site. The ministry learned of the discovery only two weeks later, following inquiries by Haaretz.

Nor have the Muslim religious authorities been notified, even though the skeletons are thought to be Muslim.

[...]

If this report is accurate, it's hard to imagine how Elad could have done more reinforce stereotypes about it and critically damage its own credibility. And the episode doesn't do the IAA any good either. All that said, I want confirmation of the story and it's details before jumping to any conclusions. I note that an earlier Haaretz article on an archaeological issue and Elad by the same journalist had some problems with it.

There is nothing about this episode on the IAA website yet.

For background on Elad and the IAA see here, here, and here.