Fishing, hunting and barbecuing on the banks of the Jordan 20,000 years ago
About 20,000 years ago, at the peak of the Ice Age, small bands of hunter-gathers wandered around present-day northern Israel. Some of those prehistoric humans found themselves at the southern edge of Paleolake Hula, where they identified a good spot for fishing and hunting.
As documented by a major research project whose first findings were just published in the latest issue of the Paleoanthropology Society journal, the site would remain in use for the following 10,000 years, bearing an extraordinary testimony on how the climate, vegetation, animals and, above all, ancient inhabitants of the land lived and changed over the course of millennia.
Currently known as Dureijat and located on the banks of the Jordan River in the Hula Valley, the site was first discovered following a drainage operation in 1999, archaeologist Gonen Sharon, director of the MA Program in Galilee Studies at Tel-Hai College and the director of the excavation, explained to The Jerusalem Post.
“We carried out a small dig in 2002, which offered very promising results. But it would take us another 14 years to start excavating in a more extensive way,” he said. “One of the elements that makes this place very unique is that researchers often study and explore sites where ancient people were living – caves, buildings. The opportunity to
consisting of a lecture by philosopher Mica Goodman to be followed by a brainstorming session for the party’s MKs.
Goodman’s 2017 book Catch 67 was meant to bridge the gap between left-wing and rightwing views on the peace process. He argued that both sides’ solutions have existential problems for Israel, and Israel should seek neither a comprehensive peace agreement nor annexation of the entire West Bank. Instead, the solution is to make interim agreements between pragmatic leaders on both sides of the conflict.
Among the interim arrangements he proposed is Palestinian autonomy and freedom of movement in the West Bank, while maintaining the Jordan Valley as Israel’s eastern border because of its strategic importance.
Another idea he proposed is maintaining Israeli control over the West Bank, decreasing confrontation between the Palestinians and the IDF and allowing the Palestinians a form of national expression.
Democrats in the US House of Representatives on Thursday released a letter to Netanyahu and Gantz to express “deep concern” with Israel’s intention to move ahead annexation.
“We urge your government to reconsider plans to do so,” the letter reads. An overwhelming majority of Democrat members, 189 out of 233, have signed the letter.
“Our fear is that unilateral actions, taken by either side, will push the parties further from negotiations and the possibility of a final, negotiated agreement,” the letter reads.
They also argued that annexation “would likely jeopardize Israel’s significant progress on normalization with Arab states at a time when closer cooperation can contribute to countering shared threats.”
All 15 MKs of the Arab Joint List sent a letter to Democratic Party representatives in the US Congress urging them to take a firm stand against Israel’s plans to annex portions of the West Bank.
MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash), who initiated the letter, said: “The annexation and the occupation are international issues. The US administration constantly intervenes in the region and gives backing to the oppression of Palestinians. The administration can give the green light or pull the brakes on annexation.
“Hence, we asked members of the Democratic Party, who might assume power soon, to express their clear objection to
the annexation plans and to clarify that if it will take place, future administrations will not recognize its legitimacy and will denounce the entire Trump plan,” she said.
Right-wing politicians and settler leaders continued to aggressively lobby against the Trump plan, with MK Bezalel Smotrich (Yamina) launching a campaign comparing this period in Israel history with the lead-up to the 2005 Gaza withdrawal.
It will compare Netanyahu with former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who at the time was extremely popular rightwing leader who destroyed 25 settlements.
The Right fears that Trump’s plan will also lead to the destruction of at least 15 settlements and to the creation of a Palestinian state. They urged Netanyahu to immediately apply sovereignty without waiting for a green-light from the US.
“We are at a critical crossroad in which we can seize this historic opportunity for sovereignty or head down the same problematic path that will divide the nation and establish a terror state in the heart of the country,” Smotrich said.
Tamar Be’eri and Alex Winston contributed to this report. •
Human Rights advocated that his family receive a travel permit directly from the Israeli District Coordination Office (DCO) at the Erez crossing. The infant, however, died three days before the June 21 date of his surgery, according to Physicians for Human Rights.
The organization has warned that there are hundreds of patients who have been denied medical treatment since the PA suspended exit permits.
In his talk to the Foreign Press Association, Mladenov said this was only one of the issues that arose from the suspension of cooperation. The PA has stopped processing shipments of goods and has halted coordination work on humanitarian projects, he said.
“While we are prepared to provide support on an emergency basis, the UN cannot replace the Palestinian Authority,” Mladenov said. “It is critical that humanitarian and other assistance not be delayed or stopped.”
“This slow grinding down of civilian coordination will have an effect on the lives of the Palestinian people,” he said.
It also will make it more difficult for the Palestinian security forces to continue their work and threatens their viability in the long run, he added.
Annexation is against international law, Mladenov reiterated, adding that if exercised, it would seriously affect relations between Israel and the PA, and Israelis and Palestinians in general.
Resumption of negotiations and prevention of violence were his main focus, he said.
Unilateral action by Israel in applying sovereignty to parts of the West Bank will radically change facts on the ground and will make it difficult to restore negotiations and dialogue between the Palestinians and Israel, Mladenov said.
Any such move would affect the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians economically and in security terms, he said.
With the prospect of annexation on the horizon, Abbas has already taken steps to change the situation on the ground, Mladenov said.
Declaring that the Middle East had changed, he said: “The region cannot afford another war. Another explosion, another war will be a terrible tragedy and a failure of leadership on all sides.” •
88-year-old resident of the Golden Age senior center in the Anglo-heavy Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, bringing the death toll to 309.
Another seven residents of the center remain hospitalized, including one who is in serious condition.
The ministerial committee extended the closure on the Bedouin town of Arara until July 1. And, although it removed closures on Rahat and the Ajami neighborhood of Tel Aviv, the government committed to increasing enforcement of Health Ministry regulations in those areas.
The coronavirus cabinet will meet Sunday in light of the growing coronavirus crisis.
“There is an outbreak,” said Levy on Thursday during an interview with Kan news, calling on the public to wear masks, social distance and maintain good hygiene.
“I don’t think the issue is that people are not listening,” head of Public Health Prof. Sigal Sadetsky told N12 in an interview late Wednesday. “We are all in this boat together and no one wants to lockdown again. The million-dollar question is how to balance between zero and 100.”
In his interview, Levy expressed similar sentiments, stressing that the Health Ministry does not envision a national closure. On the other hand, he said the ministry evaluates several times per day if there is a need to modify some of the regulations. He noted that the government is considering backtracking on large, 250-people events and considering reducing the number of people who attend weddings, for example.
“Infections are doubling about every eight to 10 days,” he said. “We are walking on a tightrope.”
The Health Ministry showed cases in more than 100 cities and towns, with the highest numbers of new patients in Arara in the Negev, Hura, Rahat, Bnei Brak and Jerusalem.
The number of people screened each day remains high: 17,697 on Wednesday, the Health Ministry reported. On Tuesday, the highest number tested in one day was reached at 19,546. The infection rate therefore remains high: nearly 4% of those screened on Wednesday tested positive.
On Wednesday, Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz instructed his ministry to prepare to open additional coronavirus hotels for those who contract the virus and cannot quarantine at home. One additional hotel was opened at the Sde Hermon School near in Kibbutz Snir in northern Israel. The command is already operating six others across the country.
At the same time, the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer reopened its underground critical care corona unit, which holds up to 50 patients. The hospital said that it is preparing to accommodate at least 350 additional seriously ill people.
Currently, the hospital is treating 21 patients, including five in serious condition.
IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Hedy Silberman was placed in isolation on Thursday, just days after it was reported that seven senior IDF officers were in quarantine after coming in contact with known patients. In addition, Military Intelligence Directorate head Maj.Gen. Tamir Hayman entered isolation.
According to data released Wednesday, to date, some 326 soldiers have contracted coronavirus and 89 are still ill. More than 4,000 soldiers are in quarantine.
Moreover, the Education Ministry reported that 861 students and staff have novel coronavirus,
more than 22,000 are in quarantine and 226 schools are closed.
Fear of the coronavirus spreading at the Ayalon Prison in Ramle was raised on Thursday, after a prison guard was infected with the coronavirus. Dozens of inmates and detainees entered isolation and the Prison Service has launched an epidemiological investigation to determine how many prison personnel and inmates were in contact with him.
At the same time, the ban on entry of foreigners into Israel has been extended until at least August 1, a spokesperson for the Airports Authority confirmed. Until now, it has remained unclear when the skies might open to tourists.
A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry told The Jerusalem Post that “we had never set a date. The original announcement said it was until a new decision [was made]. There is no new decision.”
However, a spokesperson for the Airports Authority confirmed for the Post that the airlines were updated on Thursday via a letter from the authority. The statement read, “Passengers from all countries who are not Israeli citizens or residents are not permitted to enter the State of Israel, including transit flights, other than passengers who have a designated permit from the Population and Immigration Authority.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Jerusalem. During the visit, Netanyahu said Israel was looking to open up to Greek and Cypriot visitors starting August 1. However, since that date, the infection rate in Israel has surged.
Foreign entry into Israel has been prohibited with few exceptions since mid-March as the coronavirus spread across the state and the world. The Interior Ministry updated the list of exceptions earlier this month. It includes first-degree relatives entering Israel for weddings and funerals or other special occasions, as well as some foreign workers and some students.
Anyone who enters Israel from abroad must enter 14 days of quarantine.
Netanyahu said that Israel and the United Arab Emirates will work together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This cooperation will be in research and technology development, in areas that will improve the health security of the entire region,” he said during the Air Force pilots’ course graduation ceremony on Thursday. “This will bring a blessing to many in our region.”
Lahav Harkov contributed to this report. •
the environment were like in this area. This site offered us an incredible opportunity to explore these questions.”
Indeed, the richness of findings presented by Dureijat is especially remarkable. Covered and preserved by the mud, a vast assemblage of vegetation remains, including pollens, wood, seeds and fruit, and branches and coals have also been found – a rare achievement.
“By analyzing the trees – which species grew, which disappeared – we will be able to find many answers,” Sharon said. The research project, which involves more than 20 academic institutions in Israel and abroad, including in the US, Italy and Iceland, has just started. •