Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has firmly rejected Israel’s longstanding demand for the repatriation of the 2,700-year-old Siloam Inscription, a biblical-era artifact currently housed in Istanbul’s Archaeology Museums. The limestone tablet, discovered in Jerusalem’s Siloam Tunnel in 1880 during Ottoman rule, contains ancient Hebrew text describing the tunnel’s construction and is considered a key historical relic by Israel. Erdoğan’s defiance came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent claims that the inscription “proves” Jerusalem’s Jewish heritage, asserting that Turkey would not surrender “even a single pebble from Jerusalem” to Israel.
The Siloam Inscription
The Siloam Inscription was legally transferred to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1883, decades before Israel’s establishment, and remains Turkish state property under international law. Netanyahu’s efforts to acquire the artifact, including a 1998 proposal to exchange Ottoman relics have been consistently rejected by Turkish leaders. Historians and legal experts emphasize that the inscription cannot legitimize territorial claims, as archaeological findings do not confer modern political sovereignty. Erdoğan framed the dispute as part of a broader struggle against Israeli occupation, stating, “Jerusalem is the honor and dignity of all Muslims and humanity”.
Israeli Policies
The Turkish leader accused Netanyahu of “spewing hatred” and drew parallels between Israeli actions in Gaza and historical atrocities, noting the “blood of 65,000 oppressed Gazans” on Israel’s hands. He reiterated Turkey’s commitment to Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital, aligning his stance with the international consensus on the 1967 borders. Erdoğan’s remarks reflect the deepening rift between Turkey and Israel since the Gaza war began in 2023, which has seen Turkey emerge as one of Israel’s most vocal critics.
Archaeology as a Tool
Netanyahu’s inauguration of the “Pilgrimage Road” excavation in Silwan, a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem served as the backdrop for his latest demand for the inscription. He declared Jerusalem exclusively Jewish, directly addressing Erdoğan: “This is our city, not yours”. Critics argue that Israel uses archaeology to justify displacement and annexation, noting that the Silwan excavation project is led by Elad, a settler organization accused of forcibly evicting Palestinians.