JERUSALEM, November 14, 2011 (WAFA) – The Israel Antiquities Authority Monday approved the resumption of digs at the site of a Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem for the construction of the ‘Museum of Tolerance’ despite the discovery of ancient skeletons at the site, said a Fatah leader in Jerusalem.

Member of the Revolutionary Council of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), Dimitri Diliani, said in a press conference that “the Antiquities Authority has approved digs of 1000 graves in Mamilla, which comes as part of the offensive project called ‘Museum of Tolerance.’”

He said the digging process is being resumed extensively under a huge media blackout to hide any discoveries, despite the evident proof of ancient skeletons found in the historical cemetery.

Diliani said that desecration of the Mamilla cemetery, which holds unique religious and historical value, is part of Israeli historical and cultural forgery and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians, which affects the dead also.

Haaretz newspaper quoted Wiesenthal Center, which is sponsoring and financing the project, as saying, “The work is being conducted in accordance with the law. As far as we know, the work will be completed very shortly.”

“More than 1000 skeletons were expected to be exhumed during the excavations, which have the approval of the Israel Antiquities Authority,” Haaretz said.

M.H./F.J.