The head of the Artas village council, Jamil Rabaya, confirmed that the Palestinian Authority plans to lay a cornerstone for a mosque at the ancient Jewish site of Solomon's Pools on Wednesday, according to a report by Kolle Yehudi (The Jewish Voice). Rabaya stated that the PA cabinet will visit the site for the ceremony. The site, located near Bethlehem and under PA control (Area A), has been officially registered as a Palestinian archaeological site. The move has drawn criticism from Israeli officials who view it as a provocation on a historically Jewish site.
This bulletin confirms and expands on an earlier report by The Zioneer at 20:09 Jerusalem time, which stated that the Palestinian Authority planned to lay a cornerstone for a mosque at Solomon's Pools. The new report, published by Kolle Yehudi (The Jewish Voice), provides a specific date—Wednesday—and a named source: Jamil Rabaya, head of the Artas village council. Rabaya told the Arabic radio station 'Radio Alam' that the PA cabinet will visit the site to lay the cornerstone. He also noted that Solomon's Pools was recently recognized and registered as a Palestinian archaeological and historical site.
The site, known in Jewish tradition as connected to King Solomon, has been under Palestinian control (Area A) since the Oslo Accords. Israeli ministers and MKs have visited in recent days to protest its status. The PA's move is seen by Israeli right-wing figures as a deliberate provocation.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the neglected state of the site under PA management and on Israeli efforts to reclaim Jewish heritage sites in the area. The cornerstone ceremony, if carried out, would mark a significant escalation in the cultural contest over the site.
2 developments
- StrongOp-ed: Solomon's Pools neglected under Palestinian Authority for three decades, researcher says
- DevelopingHerod's Pool in Pezael returns to Jewish hands and is refilled
- DevelopingMinister Eliahu and MK Sochot perform ritual immersion in Herod's pool, recently reclaimed from Palestinian control
- DevelopingIsraeli forces operating in Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah
Source and signal
- Internal intake