JERUSALEM, February 5, 2026 (WAFA) — The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate condemned the opening of an Israeli tunnel project, known as the “Pilgrims’ Road,” in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, calling it a direct continuation of Israeli policies aimed at falsifying Palestinian history and exploiting archaeological sites to legitimize colonial expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the Governorate said Israel is using archaeological sites as a political tool to assert control over the city, distort history, and create alternative narratives intended to erase the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.
The Governorate emphasized that all of Jerusalem’s and Palestine’s heritage belongs solely to the Palestinian people, reflecting a civilization that spans thousands of years, and that this right is supported by UNESCO resolutions and international agreements protecting Palestinian heritage from political or religious exploitation.
It warned of catastrophic consequences from Judaization excavations beneath Silwan, which have been dug under homes, causing ground collapses and serious structural damage to dozens of residential buildings, threatening residents’ lives and pushing them toward forced displacement.
The illegal excavations have caused tangible damage, the statement said, calling for UNESCO to immediately issue an official statement condemning the violations and demanding a halt to all settlement activities and tourism in Israeli projects.
The Governorate urged the international community not to limit itself to symbolic positions but to take concrete measures, including banning tourism in areas where Israel has established settlement projects on forcibly seized Palestinian land, now being turned into tourist sites to justify Judaization and colonial expansion.
It also called on archaeologists and researchers worldwide to refute Israeli-fabricated narratives and expose the false claims Israel seeks to impose on Jerusalem. The statement stressed that the Arab, Islamic, and international community bear a major responsibility to expose Israeli crimes and violations against Palestinian heritage and Islamic and Christian holy sites, noting that continued silence encourages further Judaization and exploitation of archaeological sites.
The Jerusalem Governorate concluded that protecting Jerusalem, its heritage, and holy sites is an urgent global duty requiring immediate and decisive action from all international actors to safeguard Palestinian rights and preserve their historical and cultural identity.
M.N
