Ir David Foundation
Ir David Foundation or City of David Foundation, commonly known as Elad [El'ad] (
Background
"Ir David", or the "City of David", is the name given to a site beyond the southern edge of Jerusalem's
Activities
Tourism
To expand tourist activity, the foundation created a massive marketing campaign which led to a sharp increase in the number of visitors in recent years. In 2001 the foundation had only 25,000 visitors, but 250,000 in 2006 and 350,000 in 2007.[12] In a program called "Ancient Jerusalem", they bring visitors to the three sites of Biblical Jerusalem, the City of David, Armon HaNetziv and the Mount of Olives.[13] There were 450,000 visitors in 2011.[14]
Archaeological excavations
Ir David Foundation funds most of the archaeological excavations conducted in recent years in the City of David and the surrounding areas. All excavations are conducted by the Antiquities Authority, or with their approval. Among the many excavation sites the association found in 2005 the proposed Pool of Siloam 200 meters from another "Pool of Siloam" which was a fifth-century reconstruction[15] and the road that connected the Spring to the Temple.[8]
In December 2008 excavations funded by the foundation found a large hoard of over 250 gold coins, dated to around the seventh century near the end of the
Home purchases
Ir David purchases houses in Silwan and rents them to Jewish families. According to the foundation, some houses in Silwan were originally owned by Jews before the establishment of the state, representing the Jewish settlement of Kfar Shiloah, established for immigrants from Yemen in the late 19th century. As of 2009, 75 Jewish families live in properties owned by the Association.
The Ir David foundation acquires property in the city of David and surroundings in one of four ways:
- Locating assets belonging to Jews in the city of David and seeking legal action to return them to the original owner.[20]
- Buying properties declared absentee property. According to Haaretz, Elad took control of properties by making a very dubious use of the Israeli 'Absentees Property Law'[21]
- Persuading Arab residents to voluntarily sell their homes to Jews.[20]
The foundation endeavours to buy up property from Muslims in the area, but the acquisition of houses is complex, since under Waqf law, Muslims are not permitted to sell their land to Jews, since according to Islamic jurisprudence the lands they dwell on belongs to Allah. Elad employs Muslim middle men as brokers to bypass the Waqf rules and to purchase the properties.[22]
In September 2014, Ir David Foundation aided residents moving into 25 apartments in Silwan, the largest acquisition in the foundation's history.[23] The apartments were spread over seven different buildings, which were purchased by Ir David Foundation through a US shadow organization.[24]
Funding
The largest single funder of the organization is
Criticism
On archaeology
In 1997, the organisation was sued by the Israeli state for damaging archaeological remains and for building on a historic site without a permit, and the Israel Antiquities Authority strongly recommended that the upkeep and control of the archaeological sites not be handed over to the organisation.[26] In 1998 a proposed contract to do this was annulled. However, in 2002 the contract was re-confirmed, this time without opposition from the IAA, and from that time the organisation has had responsibility for the preservation and maintenance of the City of David National Park.
In 1999, unauthorized construction on the Temple Mount by the Waqf resulted in trucks fulls of dirt filled with archaeological artifacts being dumped. In 2005 the Ir David Foundation joined a
In 2011, a leading Israeli specialist on the archeology of Jerusalem, Dr. Eilat Mazar, who in the past collaborated with the Elad foundation, wrote a letter protesting the foundation's lack commitment to "scientific archeological work". In particular she expressed concerns over their intention to demolish a wall in a subterranean trench called "Jeremiah's Pit," which she regards as part of a tourist gimmick. The Antiquities Authority replied that she was only trying to appropriate the site for herself. Elad countered that her contract forbids her from complaining about future excavations.[30]
Elad was blamed by Silwan residents when a channel dug for archaeological excavations partially collapsed in December 2011 near the village's mosque.[31] The excavations were carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Elad.
On evictions
Critics accuse the foundation of methodically moving of Jerusalem to "Judaicize" the city.[21][clarification needed] The foundation says its actions are legal under Israeli law.[20]
In December 2011, joint activities between the Elad Association and the Jewish National Fund in Israel (JNF-KKL) led to Seth Morrison's resignation from the board of JNF-USA, the JNF's arm in the
On authority over national park
Ir Amim and others petitioned the High Court in July 2010, to cancel an agreement between the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) and Elad because of secret transfer of authority to Elad, which would carry out a political agenda.[37] The Court ordered some changes and a new three-year contract was signed.[38]
References
- ^ Bezek. "עמותת אלע"ד". Business and Foundations Listing. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ Ashur, Ornit (19 October 2010). תלונה: פריצה לאתר של עמותת אלע"ד (in Hebrew).
Elad (the City of David) is an organization whose declared purpose is to strengthen the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and renew the Jewish community in the city of David (translated)
- ^ אליקים העצני (2008-04-17). ארכיאולוגיה או אידיאולוגיה?. News1 (in Hebrew).
- ^ a b "Jerusalem — Ir David". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
- ^ Eliezer David Jaffe, Yemin Moshe: The Story of a Jerusalem Neighborhood, Praeger, 1988, p. 51.
- ^ Shimi Friedman, "Adversity in a Snowball Fight: Jewish Childhood in the Muslim village of Sillwan", in Drew Chappell (ed.) Children Under Construction: Critical Essays on Play as Curriculum, Peter Lang Publishing 2010, pp.259–276, pp.260–261.
- ^ "The Ir David Foundation". Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ a b Rossner, Rena (January 26, 2006). "The once and future city". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Ahdaf Soueif, "The dig dividing Jerusalem," The Guardian (26 May 2010) [Retrieved: 29 May 2010]
- ^ a b Uri Blau and Nir Hasson (March 6, 2016). "Right-wing Israeli Group Elad Received Millions From Shadowy Private Donors". Haaretz.
- ^ a b Uri Blau (22 September 2020). "Companies Linked to Roman Abramovich Donated $100 Million to E. Jerusalem Right-wing Group". Haaretz.
- ^ Mitchell, Chris (May 22, 2008). "Scripture Comes Alive in the City of David". CBN News. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
- ^ Lockerman, Chana (December 14, 2006). "Back in time to the City of David". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved November 15, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Netanyahu blames Palestinian incitement for Itamar attack". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. March 12, 2011.
- ^ Thomas H. Maugh II (August 9, 2005). "Biblical Pool of Siloam found". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Hoard Of Hundreds Of Antique Gold Coins Uncovered In Walls Around Jerusalem National Park". Science Daily. January 29, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ Julian, Hana Levi (August 17, 2009). "Ancient Roman 'Urban Mansion' Revealed in City of David". IsraelNN Syndications. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ Flurry, Stephen (January 2009). "Did King David Conquer Jerusalem Using This Tunnel?". The Trumpet. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ "Ir David Foundation uncovers water tunnel" (in Hebrew). Israel TV Channel 1. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ^ a b c שנור, רויטל (3 November 2004). עיר בה דוידל'ה חנה (in Hebrew). Israel National News.
חשוב לנו שיידעו שהכל נעשה באופן חוקי, ביושר ותמורת כסף מלא("It is important to us to let them know that everything was done legally, honestly and fully for money")
- ^ a b Meron Rapoport "The republic of Elad", Haaretz (23-04-2006) [Retrieved 29-05-2010]
- ^ Shimi Friedman, 'Adversity in a Snowball Fight,' p.261.
- ^ DANIEL ESTRIN (October 3, 2014). "Jews occupy once-Arab apartments". Press Herald. Associated Press.
- ^ You, American taxpayer, are helping to fund Israeli settlements
- ^ BBC News, September 2020, "Israeli Settlers' Chelsea Boss Backer"
- ^ Yigal Bronner, Archaeologists for hire, The Guardian, 1 May 2008
- ^ Shragai, Nadav (December 21, 2008). "Rare first century half shekel coin found in Temple Mount dirt". Haaretz. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ Shragai, Nadav (October 19, 2006). "Temple Mount dirt uncovers First Temple artifacts". Haaretz. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
- ^ "Temple Mount sifting project at a crossroads". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
- ^ Nir Hasson, ‘Leading archaeologist slams Elad excavation at Jerusalem's City of David,’ in Haaretz 11 October 2011
- ^ Nir Hasson (2011-12-28). "Silwan residents blame right-wing group for collapse of tunnel near mosque". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
- ^ Haaretz and Nir Hasson (2011-12-14). "JNF board member resigns to protest eviction of East Jerusalem Palestinian family". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ Nir Hasson (2011-11-11). "Palestinian family given two weeks to vacate East Jerusalem home". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ Seth Morrison (2011-12-13). "JNF Board Member Quits Over Evictions". The Forward. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ a b Nir Hasson (2011-11-27). "JNF delays eviction of Palestinian family from East Jerusalem home". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ Hannah Weisfeld (2011-12-09). "Eviction assaults Israel's values". Jewish Chronicle. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Israeli bill to give settler group authority in Silwan. IMEU, 5 May 2011
- ^ Lidman, Melanie (26 March 2012). "Court favors right-wing group on City of David park". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
External links
- Ir David Official Site
- The Story Behind the Tourist Site Criticism of Elad by the Silwan Information Center local protest group
- Archaeologist petition for control of the investigations to be taken away from Elad
- Digging for Trouble, Journeyman Pictures, via YouTube