Emek Shaveh

Emek Shaveh (Hebrew: עמק שווה) is an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO) of archaeologists and human rights activists founded in 2008. The organization monitors the political abuse of archaeology in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, focusing primarily on East Jerusalem and the West Bank. It advocates for the protection of antiquities as shared cultural heritage belonging to all local communities and historical periods, rather than as a tool for territorial or nationalistic claims.

Mission and Philosophy

Emek Shaveh focuses on a critical examination of the role of archaeology in political conflicts. The organization argues that archaeological sites in Israel and Palestine possess multi-layered histories encompassing Canaanite, Israelite, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. It opposes the prioritization of any single historical narrative over others for political reasons. The group conducts educational tours to archaeological sites focusing on all site periods, publishes policy papers, and engages in legal advocacy to counter the weaponization of heritage sites in geopolitics.

Emek Shaveh states that it opposes the use of archaeology to prioritize a single historical narrative for political purposes. The organization advocates an approach to archaeology that emphasizes multiple historical narratives and promotes dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. Emek Shaveh engages with archaeologists Israel regarding international standards and agreements concerning cultural property, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. It has also argued that adherence to such standards is important for maintaining relations between Israeli professionals and the international academic community.

Key Areas of Activity

East Jerusalem and Silwan

A primary focus of Emek Shaveh is the archaeological activity in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, specifically at the so-called "City of David archaeological park". The organization has consistently criticized Israel's decision to outsource the management of this national park to the Elad Association (Ir David Foundation), a private settler organization. Emek Shaveh alleges that Elad emphasizes Jewish biblical history while marginalizing the area's substantial Islamic and Christian layers, using archaeological excavations as a mechanism to expand Jewish colonization in East Jerusalem. The NGO has launched legal challenges against Elad's control of local infrastructure, describing state backing of their excavations as a "dangerous political act." It has also appealed to the High Court of Justice of Israel regarding the closure of public areas within the park on Jewish holidays, though these petitions have faced rejection.

The West Bank

Following escalation in Israeli activities in the West Bank, Emek Shaveh expanded its monitoring to Area C and Area B, opposing legislative moves such as the "Heritage Authority in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip Law" which aims to establish a new civilian antiquities authority for those areas. The organization opposes the transfer of archaeological authorities to Israeli government ministries, arguing that such moves constitute de facto annexation. They actively track wave declarations of archaeological sites by KAMAT of the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA). This includes monitoring Palestinian heritage sites, such as Ancient Sebastia, where they have filed expert opinions objecting to ICA expropriation orders and enforcement measures on lands adjacent to ruins.

Funding

Emek Shaveh is primarily funded by Western human-rights and democracy minded international donor organizations, church-based groups, and foreign governments. According to its financial disclosures and independent research indices, institutional backers have included the European Union, the New Israel Fund, and the governments of Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, and Denmark.

Reception and Criticism

Emek Shaveh's work has drawn sharp criticism from right-wing Israeli politicians, settler groups, and nationalist organizations. Critics, including the Jerusalem-based settler organization NGO Monitor, accuse Emek Shaveh of utilizing professional archaeology as a facade for a pro-Palestinian political advocacy, and undermining Jewish sovereignty of all of the promised land. Opponents contend that the group minimizes or delegitimizes Jewish historical ties to Jerusalem and the West Bank, which they call "Judea and Samaria". The organization has also been criticized within Israel for its reliance on foreign government funding, which critics view as external intervention in domestic Israeli policy and sovereign affairs.