Experts repudiate Netanyahu's assertion regarding the Siloam Inscription
In the bustling city of Jerusalem, a 2,800-year-old artifact holds a significant place in the city's rich history. Known as the Siloam Inscription, this ancient relic was discovered in 1880 during the Ottoman reign, buried deep within a water tunnel.
The Siloam Inscription is believed to date back to King Hezekiah's reign, making it an invaluable piece of history. However, its significance and the claims surrounding it have been a subject of debate for over a century.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly requested the return of the Siloam Inscription, even offering to exchange it for Ottoman relics kept in Israel. But Turkish historians and legal experts dismiss these demands, asserting that the inscription was lawfully transferred to Istanbul and offers no basis for claims over Jerusalem.
Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz made his stance clear in 1998 when he rejected Netanyahu's request, stating, "This has no price." Yahya Coşkun, a former deputy head of Türkiye's museums authority, showed Israeli officials a record proving the Siloam Inscription was registered in Istanbul during Ottoman rule, before Israel existed.
The inscription is currently housed in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, having been sent there by the Ottoman authorities in the 19th century. Despite repeated appeals, Turkey has maintained its position: The Siloam Inscription will not leave Istanbul.
International law professor Enver Bozkurt emphasises that past presence does not translate into permanent rights. Turkish historian İlber Ortaylı states that Israel's attempt to use the Siloam Inscription as proof of sovereignty is historically meaningless.
Religion historian İsmail Taşpınar questions the validity of Netanyahu's claim regarding the Siloam Inscription. Meanwhile, former ambassador Tahsin Burcuoğlu argues that such arguments are purely propaganda tools and would not be taken seriously by any international legal body.
The dating and purpose of the Siloam Inscription remain debated among specialists, but its significance as an archaeological artifact dating to King Hezekiah's reign is not contested. A replica of the Siloam Inscription is on display in Jerusalem, offering visitors a glimpse into the past without the controversy.
As the Siloam Inscription continues to divide opinions, it serves as a reminder of the complex history shared by Israel and Turkey, a history that extends far beyond the borders of modern-day nations.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
