🔗 Share this article American Chief Diplomat of Foreign Affairs Launches Israeli Settlement-Backed Archaeological Project in the Holy City The US Secretary of State speaks at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport before departing for Qatar on this week American top diplomat the chief US diplomat has unveiled a contentious archaeological tourism site managed by an Israeli settler group in occupied Jerusalem's eastern sector. The United States' top diplomat was a honored participant at the launch of the so-called "Pilgrimage Road", a underground passage uncovered under Palestinian homes adjacent to the historic quarter of Jerusalem. The launch event took place at the City of David, a religious heritage attraction run by the Elad settler organisation in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Wadi Hilweh. The Secretary's presence was denounced by local advocacy organizations as giving American support to Israel's "expansionist policies" close to the city's revered religious landmarks. Local Inhabitants Face Eviction Notices Inhabitants of Silwan have for a long time been subject to displacement notices and home demolitions to allow for Jewish settlements and the enlargement of the heritage site, as reported by advocacy organizations. Settlements are prohibited under international law. "Perhaps one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet", Mr Rubio characterized the dig, saying it had deep meaning to people in the United States. He previously said he recognized "people want to involve politics in it"… "But at the end of the day, it's an extraordinary archaeological site". Local Perspectives Silwan resident Fakhri Abu Diab, in his sixties, said Mr Rubio was siding with extremists in the Tel Aviv administration instead of being on the side of international law. "Our heritage is being overlooked", he said. "He isn't visiting when they are demolishing our homes, ethnic cleansing and kicking us out of here". The resident spoke next to the debris of his home, which was demolished recently at the order of Israeli authorities. Israel claims such properties are built without permits, but permits are exceedingly difficult for Palestinians to secure. Elad Involvement and Global Reaction The City of David has been operated since the early 2000s by a settler organization, which has appropriated land, taken over Palestinian homes and advocated for the eviction of Palestinian families in Silwan, according to a recent study by the a United Nations investigative body. A representative of the City of David told news agencies: "Every dig is conducted under strict professional guidelines by authorized bodies". He refused to answer further questions. The excavation is said to mark the path of a ancient street taken by worshippers to the site sacred in Judaism as the location of two Biblical temples. As reported by Peace Now, the tunnel stretches 0.6 kilometers from Silwan, running underneath local houses and the historic fortifications, ending close to the foundations of the Western Wall. The group called Rubio's visit "nothing less than American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the most sensitive part of Jerusalem's Holy Basin". The group added: "[W]hat stands behind its opening is a trampling of Jerusalem as a city sacred to all faiths and belonging to all its residents".