Jerusalem – Israeli archaeologists say workers have uncovered an ancient pagan altar while clearing ground for construction of a hotly disputed hospital emergency room.
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They say the discovery proves an ancient cemetery at the site that has been at the center of protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews does not contain the graves of Jews.
Protesters claim an emergency room extension at Barzilai Hospital in the city of Ashkelon is being built on an ancient Jewish cemetery. They demonstrated there when officials began removing graves this week, and rioting erupted in ultra-Orthodox areas of Jerusalem.
The Israel Antiquities Authority said Thursday the discovery of the 2,000-year-old incense altar, along with the nature of the graves, shows the cemetery was pagan.
Don’t get haredim confused with the facts
Ouch!
this is just photo opt
Now that it has been proven that pagans lived in the area before the Israelites, they will petition the UN to partition the area for them as their claim predates the Jewish one. They will drive the Jewish settlers out and reclaim the land for their pagan rites based upon their own 4000 year old texts.
This is a terrible day for the Jewish people as it is clear that there is an older claim than ours to the land.
Udder yah, udder nisht.
the chareidim that protested, were still right according to their opinion. they never said it was jewish, they kept saying its unknown, had this information been known (if it is really true) then they wouldn’t have had such a problem with it
lol what a sham. they brought that in on the excavation equipment.
Whoops.
Apparently people don’t learn Navi and don’t realize one thing The Jews ALWAYS had “Bamos” :Pagan Altars so this is no conclusive proof either way , this in general is a problem with Archeology it is not a REAL science it is the definition of the person looking at the artifact and his conclusions include all his natural biases
Um… nice photo shot… hey .. where are the excavations; the backround is so nice and neat…hmmm. pagan altar?!?!?… how about a park pedestal or bench!
I doubt its true, and wouldn’t be surprised if they brought it there now.
point is: how can we demand that others not dig up our kevorim in europe, when this disrespectful and shameless kangaroo republic dig up graves in their own state.
This is nothing! Wait until they protest against Moshiach for knocking down buildings in the Old City to make room for the new bais hamikdash!
Wait a minute, last week the “experts” were saying the graves were Byzantine. Now suddenly they’re pagan?! And we’re expected to accept the abrupt transition from one to the other without a murmur, satisfied that “at least they weren’t Jewish”?! What kind of fools are we being taken for?
Where were the Hareidi protesters when they dug up graves in Gush Katif, which were definitely Jewish?
Oh, forgot; The Hereidim got paid for their votes to pass the girush…..
Who care what the origin of the bones are? Bones are human remains and Israel ought to be showing an example to the world.
And what??? The problem is not if the bones are from Jews or Goyim. The problem is that there are BONES.
When did they shlep in the phony altar to prove their false case?
I personally don’t believe that the Israelis found the altar (who said this thing is an altar, anyway?) in this pagan cemetary. I believe they brought it in to make the Eida look foolish.
Here are my two cents on this issue. I believe the Israeli gov could have worked out a compromise, and should have, because there are numerous cemetaries in Europe that are in danger of the graves being removed. The Israelis themselves should have the decency to respect human bones, especially if we need the world to respect the Jewish bones of our ancestors, worlwide.
Now regarding the Eidah Hachareidis, I don’t understand how they did not condemn the destruction of property and come out with a forcible declaration against acting in a wild and destructive manner. This is not the Jewish way. Also, in my opinion, a Jewish burial for what are very likely pagan bones (there really seems not to be any Jewish symbols in these graves- although with these Israelis you can’t tell). Though these bones might not be from pagans, the sofek that they are (and the Eidah does’t deny this) makes it a chillul Hashem that frum Jews gave them a Jewish burial.
The fact that the archaeologists are so out to prove the bones are pagan is the strongest indication that they aren’t.
I am from the right of Orthodoxy, and I am ashamed of the outright Chilul HaShem created by the protesters and the Rabbonim who gave such discusting behavior their support.
Let these individuals go out and get a job and support their families, instead of the mass Bitul Torah they participated in both at the hospital site and the burying of pagan bones in Jerusalem.