Violation: breaking into a Palestinian archeological site
Location: Al-Muriq village- Dura
Date: January 08, 2016
Perpetrators: Israeli colonists
Victims: residents of the village
Details:
A group of colonists accompanied and protected by the Israeli occupation forces broke into “Al-Muriq archeological palace”, west Dura town and held some Talmudic rituals.
Residents of the area said that three buses of colonists escorted by three army patrols raided on January 08, 2016 the village of Al-Muriq. Soldiers stationed at the entrance of the village and between roads and houses to secure entry for colonists to the site.
Photos 1-2: View of AL-Muriq Roman palace
Residents also asserted that colonists stayed until 7:30 in the morning before they had left. Now, residents of the area have concerns that such tours get to be held repeatedly and periodically because of the site’s location that is in the middle of the village inhabited by 300 people.
Palestine Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in a statement to media outlets, condemned the storming of the location pointing out that what colonists did is a blatant violation of international laws and the signed agreements between Israel and Palestine. And that it is a breach to enter an archeological site administered by Palestinians.
The ministry confirmed that the attacked site is a very important and archeological Palestinian site that is considered part of the Palestinian heritage.
It should be marked that the Roman palace of Al-Muriq is founded on an area 1600m2. It was rehabilitated and renovated by Palestine Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in 2010 and was cleaned and maintained by the UNESCO in 2015.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
