In response to an appeal by Emek Shaveh, the Attorney General stated that the Ministry of Housing deviated from its mandate when it transferred the management of the \u2018Davidson Center\u2019 archaeological park to Elad Foundation, a private settler organization.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Housing was supposed to reach an agreement over the management of Davidson Center (via the Jewish Quarter Development Company) solely with the East Jerusalem Development Company. The Attorney General is working urgently to prevent the transfer of the Davidson Center to Elad Foundation.<\/p>\n
About two weeks ago, Emek Shaveh petitioned the Attorney General to halt the transfer of the archaeological park known as \u2018Davidson Center\u2019 to Elad Foundation. The archaeological park is adjacent to the Western and Southern Walls of the Temple Mount. Findings in this area date to the most important periods in Jerusalem\u2019s history, beginning from the 7th century BCE to the late Islamic periods. We see it as paramount that the archaeological site continues to be managed by Israeli governmental bodies and not by ideological and political foundations such as Elad.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General\u2019s response is significant on various levels:<\/p>\n
1. The Attorney General recognizes the archaeological and cultural importance of the site. His response letter states that a site of primary public and national significance such as Davidson Center must remain under governmental jurisdiction. Additionally the response stated that the cultural, religious and geopolitical significance of the site must be taken into consideration in its management plan.<\/p>\n
2. The Ministry of Housing received a permit to end a legal battle concerning the East Jerusalem Development Company (EJDC)\u2019s financial debts to the Jewish Quarter Development Company (JQDC). The JQDC deviated from its mandate when it signed an agreement with Elad Foundation allowing it to manage the site instead of EJDC, as was previously the case.<\/p>\n
3. The Attorney General stated explicitly that legal measures are being taken to prevent the transfer of the site to Elad Foundation.<\/p>\n
4. Although the petition by Emek Shaveh related solely to Davidson Center, the Attorney General\u2019s affirmation of the site\u2019s historical and cultural significance, and the need to retain governmental oversight there, corresponds to Emek Shaveh\u2019s claim that other archaeological sites such as \u2018Ir David\u2019 should not be managed by Elad Foundation.<\/p>\n