Israel Archaeology as a Method Producing Legitimacy to the Occupation in the Palestine

Abstract

This study considers the archaeological studies in Israel as a politicized phenomenon, a method that legitimizes the occupation, and claims that archaeological studies normalize the Jewish presence in Palestinian lands by making them more visible and try to invalidate the Palestinian existence by pushing them into the background. Israel uses the outputs of its archaeological excavations in Palestine both to strengthen its argument of promised land and its bounds and claims to the land. Thus the material evidence obtained in archaeological excavations are used to support the thesis that these lands belong only to Jews. In particular, Israel has recently instrumentalised various archaeological material evidence through museums, academic publications, media and diplomacy to justify claims on Jerusalem and the West Bank. In this context, the study focuses on the archaeological studies in Israel and their relation to nation-building as well as showing how the findings obtained in museums, media and academic Works are reflected and used as a method of diplomatic persuasion, in order to prove the claim that in Israel, archeology is a method that provides legitimacy for the occupation.