Israeli Forces Seize Ancient Baptismal Font near Bethlehem (VIDEO)

Israeli Forces Seize Ancient Baptismal Font near Bethlehem (VIDEO) - Palestine Chronicle
▻https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-forces-seize-ancient-baptismal-font-near-bethlehem-video

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Tuqu.jpg

Israeli forces seized on Monday a rare Byzantine-era baptismal font from Tuqu‘ town, near Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

WAFA photojournalist Oday Daibes posted a video showing Israeli soldiers escorting a forklift truck transferring the stone-made font, which dates back to the fifth or sixth century A.D., from the town.

(جرن معمودية ) يقدر عمره ١٦٠٠ عام قامت قوات الاحتلال بسرقته الليلة من بلدة تقوع في محافظة بيت لحم…

Posted by Oday Daibes on Monday, July 20, 2020

A documentary prepared by Jerusalem’s Christian Media Center reveals that the rosy font, which weighs approximately eight tons, was part of a local Byzantine-era church.

The font was seen placed for long at the site of the ancient church in Khirbet Tuqu‘, the ancient town of Tuqu‘, before being stolen by unauthorized dealers using a huge forklift in 2000.

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IDF returns 5th century stolen baptismal font to original site in Tekoa
COGAT Archaeological Unit says the artifact was stolen by antiquity looters some 20 years ago; Palestinian official accuses Israel of theft.
By ROSSELLA TERCATIN JULY 20, 2020
▻https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/idf-returns-5th-century-stolen-baptismal-font-to-original-site-in-tekoa-63570

(...) The question of who is in charge of archaeological sites in the region and how they are managed is very complex, presenting multiple legal and practical issues.
At present, the archaeology unit at COGAT is in charge of the sites in Israel-controlled Area C, which includes the area of Tekoa, while the Palestinian Authority is responsible for sites located in PA-controlled Area A and in Area B, which include Bethlehem.
However, many instances of neglect and looting, and sometimes even destruction, have been documented in sites under the PA control, while on its part the PA harshly criticized archaeological activities conducted under Israeli auspices in the West Bank calling them “a crime” and labeling them as “political, not scientific.”

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