The preceding story of the Temple Mount tablet also has its shady sides. An Israeli law of the year 1978 states clearly that any archaeological find discovered after that date belongs to the State of Israel, and can therefore not be sold or used by private citizens. Despite this, Atty. Yitzchak Herzog - former Cabinet Secretary under Prime Minister Barak and currently a Labor Party candidate for Knesset - is representing the Arab collector in his efforts to sell the tablet.
Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, of the Committee to Prevent Desecration of Temple Mount Antiquities, told Arutz-7 this morning that "the man who served as Cabinet Secretary for the government at the time that the most widespread destruction of Temple Mount artifacts was taking place - is now representing the man who is trying to sell findings from those very ruins." She said that this fact "arouses very strong question marks," and that a financial sum of "many millions" is involved.
Dr. Mazar added that the situation regarding Jews and the Temple Mount continues to deteriorate: "Not only are Jews not allowed on the Mount, but now the police do not even permit non-Moslems to approach the Temple Mount gates, nor anywhere near the eastern wall or the south-eastern excavation sites. In short, we are banned from a wide area around the Temple Mount as well."
Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, of the Committee to Prevent Desecration of Temple Mount Antiquities, told Arutz-7 this morning that "the man who served as Cabinet Secretary for the government at the time that the most widespread destruction of Temple Mount artifacts was taking place - is now representing the man who is trying to sell findings from those very ruins." She said that this fact "arouses very strong question marks," and that a financial sum of "many millions" is involved.
Dr. Mazar added that the situation regarding Jews and the Temple Mount continues to deteriorate: "Not only are Jews not allowed on the Mount, but now the police do not even permit non-Moslems to approach the Temple Mount gates, nor anywhere near the eastern wall or the south-eastern excavation sites. In short, we are banned from a wide area around the Temple Mount as well."