Israel: Pool of Siloam Excavation Site Opens to the Public

According to the Old Testament, the Pool of Siloam was built during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:20). This pool is the site of one of the most famous miracles performed by Jesus.

This miracle is recounted in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of St. John. After coating the eyes of a blind man with a little mud, made of dust and His saliva, Jesus sends him to wash in the pool of Siloam. After washing, he regains his sight.

The sequel is very provocative: it was a Sabbath day. Now, making mud in this way was considered contrary to the law of the Sabbath. The Pharisees therefore condemned this miracle and the healed blind man defended Christ admirably. He then finds his benefactor and adores Him.

In 1980, archaeologists found the first indications of the location of this famous biblical site outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City. However, they had to wait until 2005 to officially confirm their rediscovery.

Excavations that Hide Other Intentions

The announcement of the excavations was seen by the Israeli left as part of a campaign to extend Israeli right-wing Jewish control over politically sensitive areas of East Jerusalem currently inhabited by Palestinians, notes The Times of Israel.

Additionally, the pool will be added to the route of a controversial trail, the “Pilgrims' Route,” which begins at the foot of the Western Wall and ends at the southern end of the City of David. This ancient site is believed by archaeologists to be the first Jewish settlement in Jerusalem, but is now part of the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan.

Finally, part of the area to be excavated is on a terraced olive grove owned by the Greek Patriarchate and leased to a Palestinian family since 1931, the left-wing organization Emek Shaveh said on Tuesday.

According to the Haaretz daily, the land was sold to an offshore holding company in a controversial 2004 deal that saw far-right Jewish groups take over two hotels in the Old City. That deal was recently suspended by Israel's Supreme Court after more than a decade of legal wrangling and claims that the deal was invalid.

The project is carried out by the City of David Foundation, known in Hebrew as Elad, which works to increase the Jewish presence in and around the Holy Pool of Jerusalem, an archaeologically rich strip of land located outside the Old Town.

According to Emek Shaveh and other pacifist watchdog groups, scores of police, including some border patrol officers, escorted foundation officials to the site on Tuesday morning. Also according to this organization, three members of the Palestinian family claiming the land were arrested.