"Some think that the history of Israel should be written only by relying on sources outside the Bible."
The 2,000-year-old facility was revealed during a salvage excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Out of 22,000 ancient coins found in the Old City, only four can be traced back to Bar Kochba rebellion.
The appearance was part of a wider narrative by the Palestinian Authority, which insists that archaeological evidence of a continuous Jewish presence in Israel is forgery.
The decision to close the site was made after Israeli tourists were filmed performing "Jewish rituals" at the site.
The cistern, suggested to be dated from the Byzantine period, may be part of upcoming renovations.
The cave is the largest known such cave in Israel, contained a wealth of ancient artifacts: decorated ossuaries, burial offerings, jars, stone tools and more.
May serve as proof for the existence of a famous ancient Jewish bathing site.
Itamar Berna discovered the figurine while hiking in northern Israel.
The Palestinians have since used the incident to revive their long-standing charge that Israel was planning to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to rebuild the Third Temple.
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