- Title: WEST BANK-SYNAGOGUE Palestinian ministry renovates West Bank synagogue
- Date: 5th July 2015
- Summary: JERICHO, WEST BANK (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKER CLEANING MOSAIC FLOOR OF MOSAIC WORKER RAKING FLOOR VARIOUS OF MOSAIC VARIOUS OF WORKERS WORKING ON SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN TOURISM AND ANTIQUITIES MINISTRY DIRECTOR IN JERICHO, EYAD HAMDAN, SAYING: "That's an important and original part of the mission of the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry to sponsor a
- Embargoed: 20th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAEFJD113BXJAX54ITAKOSX6MQT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY (4:3)
The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is renovating an ancient Jewish synagogue at the Western entrance of the West Bank city of Jericho.
Studies show that the synagogue, located at a site called "Ein Doyok", was built in the sixth century. What remains of it today is a 90 square meters mosaic floor.
The renovations involve protecting the mosaic floor from damage by adding special protective layers.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' Jericho office director, Eyad Hamdan, said holy sites of all faiths should be preserved.
"That's an important and original part of the mission of the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry to sponsor all sites of all religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism because at the end it is a heritage of humanity and it's the job of the (tourism) ministry and the Palestinian Authority and the state of Palestine to protect all those sites," he said.
It is believed that the synagogue, like many other buildings in Jericho province, was destroyed as a result of an earthquake that hit the city in the year 729 A.D. which kept the mosaic floor hidden under the ruins.
The ministry is building a protective roof at the site and will also pave walking paths for tourists, add a sign with information about the site's history and build a reception room.
The name Ein Doyok comes from a nearby water spring which is believed to be the reason why the site was chosen as the location for the synagogue.
The United States government contributed 100,000 U.S. dollars for the renovation process, through a program facilitated by the United States Department of State.
Rachel Leslie, Cultural Affairs Officer at the Consulate General of the United States of America in Israel, said the synagogue was an important site that needed to be preserved.
"These mosaics spanned about 350 square meters and the motifs on them represent Jewish, Christian and Polytheistic traditions. So in effort to aid Ein Doyok near Jericho to preserve these mosaics and important archaeological site but these mosaics represent the incredible cultural diversity of the historic community that once lived in Jericho," she said.
Jericho, a 10-minute drive from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, is one of the world's oldest communities, site of the biblical Mount of Temptation where Christians believe Jesus was tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days.
When the renovation work is complete, the synagogue will be another site open to tourists and visitors, said Hamdan of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
"This is one of the important archaeological sites in Jericho province. This site is dated back to the sixth century, it has a mosaic floor that is one of the most important mosaic floors in Jericho province. A roof is being built for this site to protect the mosaic floor and to open this site and add it to the tourism sites in Jericho," he said.
The Palestinian Authority has recorded incidents in which Jewish settlers have broken into the site, which is located in area "A" under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinians have self-rule in so-called Area A, which makes up 18 percent of the West Bank, and share responsibility for a further 21 percent in Area B.
Area C is administered by Israel and is home to many Jewish settlements. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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