An ivory spoon dating back 2,700 years that was recently repatriated to the Palestinian Authority from the United States has sparked a dispute with Israel's new far-right government over the cultural heritage in the occupied West Bank. The clash brings into focus the political sensitivities surrounding archaeology in the Middle East, where Israelis and Palestinians each use ancient artifacts to support their claims over the land. Israel's ultranationalist heritage minister has ordered officials to examine the legality of the U.S. government's historic repatriation of the artifact to the Palestinians earlier this month, and is calling for annexing archaeology in the occupied West Bank.
Israel probes legality of US giving artifact to Palestinians arabnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from arabnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Earlier this month, American officials handed over a 2,700-year-old ivory incense spoon to the Palestinians in what the U.S. State Department s Office of Palestinian Affairs said was \
Israel probes legality of US giving artifact to Palestinians berkshireeagle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from berkshireeagle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
American diplomat hails return of 'cosmetic spoon' from Assyrian period as 'a historic moment'; object was seized from the Jewish American billionaire as part of criminal probe