سرقة الآثار الفلسطينية : نهب للذات و تدمير للهوية الوطنية

Abstract EN

This paper focuses on the widespread and flourishing phenomenon of antiquities looting throughout the Palestinian Territories, which had already resulted in the destruction of thousands of archaeological sites and features, either partially or completely, and the extraction of at least one million archaeological objects that have found their way onto the illegal antiquities market.

This work presents the antiquities looting phenomenon down through history; Palestine’s antiquities looting in the present day; the driving forces behind the looting of Palestine’s antiquities; the Palestinian antiquities looters themselves – their skills, working techniques, characteristics and education level; and, finally, an examination of cases of antiquities looting prosecuted through the Palestinian courts.

This study is based on a review of the relevant literature, the results of various fieldwork research projects carried out by the author over the past two decades, and on the archives of the Palestinian court system.