As I write these words, Palestinian suicide bombers once again have begun to attack innocent civilians in Israel. Perhaps it will end by the time this appears in print.
BAR tries to stay out of politics. We do not restrict ourselves to writing about excavations in Israel. I have reported on archaeological projects in the Gaza Strip. We have published an article by the director of antiquities of Saudi Arabia. We reported many stories from Jordan and Egypt before those countries signed peace treaties with Israel. We’ve covered archaeology in Syria and even Iraq.
Having said this, we cannot refrain from declaring that whatever grievances Palestinians may have, suicide bombing of civilians is not justified as a tactic to address them. It is nothing less than inhuman. Unfortunately, the anti-Israel and blatantly anti-Semitic education that Palestinians offer their children has incited many youngsters to behave at a level of depravity that is almost unique in the annals of history. What kind of society would encourage its young teenagers, even girls, to attain glory by blowing themselves up as human bombs?
Everything, of course, is affected—including archaeology. Few digs with foreign volunteers will be in the field this summer.
But our answer to this insane violence must be to try to lead our archaeological lives as best we can. That means to continue reporting on the excitement that is always there in the archaeological world, whether it is in the form of new seal impressions that mention characters from the Bible or new ideas on how ancient Israelite houses reflect ancient Israelite ideology. Articles in this issue treat both these subjects.
More personally, I am about to take off for Israel, where, despite these troubling times, life goes on. I go because I always learn in Israel. Unfortunately I will not be permitted to go to the West Bank, where I have also learned much and met many good people. Maybe with the contraction of field activity, there will be more time for scholarly writing and research—with more stories for BAR as a result. But I also go to see my many friends, mostly archaeologists and Bible scholars. Beyond their academic roles, they are just plain human beings. I want to say, “I am with you in these trying times.”
It will be difficult to talk of anything but the matzav, the “situation.” These friends are of all political stripes, from one end of the spectrum to the other—but all are united, as is the entire civilized world, in the conviction that suicide bombing of innocent civilians is an inhumane, intolerable tactic. We will try to talk about archaeology as well. Getting into an argument about the evidence from Jerusalem during the time of David and Solomon may even make us forget for the moment about the world we are living in.
I look forward to sharing the archaeological fruits of my visit with all of you.
I am heartsick.
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