The coronavirus pandemic has allowed thieves to “to roam free while causing irreversible damage to the historical record and to world heritage sites,” reported TPS.
“Arab bandits digging at the archeological site of Tel Tekoa in Gush Etzion on Thursday were documented by the Shomrim Al Hanetzch (Preserving the Eternal) organization while in action,” TPS reported Tuesday.
“A drone documented the bandits digging through the archeological site while in search of findings they can later sell on the black market. One of the bandits is clearly seen with a metal detector while others are seen digging at the archeological site, ” the Israel news site added.
TPS continued, “Tel Tekoa, which has an ancient history dating back to Biblical times and which is mentioned 14 times in the Bible and many times in other historical texts throughout the centuries, was the latest site to be raided during a recent wave of vandalism and theft of archeological sites by Arab bandits.”