Israeli archaeologists oppose privatisation billI'm not sure that there's anything new in this article, but it sums up the state of play thoroughly.
Proposed amendment related to disputed excavation
By Lauren Gelfond Feldinger | Web only (The Art Newspaper)
Published online 6 Oct 11 (News)
JERUSALEM. More than 150 Israeli archaeologists and historians have petitioned the Israeli parliament to vote down an amendment to a bill that would privatise national parks, including archaeological and historic sites. The petition, delivered to the culture and environment ministers, charges that the changes to law, if passed, would fuel political interests, hurt minority communities and undermine unbiased scientific research. “We demand that the government not change the laws... and instead strengthens academic freedom and heritage without sectarian preference,” it says. The Union for Environmental Defence and The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel have also opposed the amendment.
The bill, to be voted on in October, was proposed following protests against the management of City of David, one of Israel’s most popular, albeit politically charged, archaeological parks, sponsored and managed by a private foundation.
Background here and links.
