On Thursday, the second of Kislev, Antiquities Authority
workers emptied an ancient burial cave in the city of Shoham
in a lightening, overnight operation. The affair had been
coordinated in advance between the Mivnei Taasia company and
the Lod Police.
Emptying of the burial cave took place under the protection
of scores of policemen who were brought to the site by Mivnei
Taasia company directors, who had -- in an underhanded manner
-- arranged a meeting with the representative of the
Religious Affairs Ministry about the site on that particular
morning. While the meeting was taking place, the burial cave
was looted.
A number of days ago, Antiquities Authority personnel emptied
other ancient burial pits and scattered the bones of the
deceased in a disgraceful manner. Such acts are absolutely
illegal.
Activists involved in protecting the ancient caves note that
Attorney General Rubinstein has demonstrated a rather
moderate attitude in respect to the criminal behavior of the
police. They say that Amir Drori currently has in his
possession twenty skeletons which were removed from burial
caves in Shoham. In complete defiance of guidelines set down
by former Attorney General Ben Yair -- and which are legally
binding -- he has not reburied them.
