Amid rocket sirens and interceptions, two antiquities thieves were apprehended at the Horvat Hermesh site, which houses the remains of an ancient settlement from the Roman and Byzantine periods, near the Elyakim interchange in northern Israel.
The two were in the midst of an illegal excavation of the site when they were discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), an Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) inspector, and a local security guard. Several pieces of ancient pottery had been shattered, and layers of earth had been disturbed during the suspect’s excavation.
Border Police were called in to formally detain the suspects and transfer them to the Zichron Ya’acov police station for further questioning.
While transporting the suspects to the police station, a rocket siren sounded, forcing the police officers and IAA inspectors to stop and take shelter with the apprehended suspects, as well as other civilians, until the Home Front Command issued an all-clear alert.
Approximately 30 people were present in the small, public shelter.
The suspect's excavation equipment has been seized, and the investigation is ongoing.
Two suspects apprehended after stealing antiquities
In a separate incident in northern Israel, two residents of Fureidis were caught illegally searching for antiquities using metal detectors and other digging tools at the Horvat Hadarim archaeological site along the Carmel coast.
The suspects were also discovered to be in possession of antiquities looted from the site.
Members of the Border Police and an INPA inspector assisted in arresting the suspects here as well, and the investigation will be transferred to the IAA’s legal department for the consideration of filing an indictment.
“Surrealistically, even in such tense times, when security forces and citizens are faced with life-threatening issues, there are those who try to exploit the situation and search for antiquities, while harming Israel's heritage sites,” said Nir Distelfeld, the IAA’s Theft Prevention Unit’s Northern Region Supervisor.
“The Israel Antiquities Authority's Theft Prevention Unit continues its activities on an ongoing basis, even during the war, with the aim of protecting the country's cultural assets and past.”
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu echoed the sentiment, explaining that “antiquities robbers are not ordinary criminals, but rather saboteurs of history.”
“They know full well that the archaeological finds in the Land of Israel are the infallible proof of our right to this land,” he said. “Every pottery shard, every coin, and every relic testify that this has been our land and homeland since the days of our forefather Abraham.”
“That is why they do not hesitate to harm our history precisely in times of war. Because it is part of the war. The war is over heritage, over history, over the question of who this land belongs to.”