Israeli authorities say they successfully stopped a Palestinian Authority crew from attempting to pave over the ancient biblical city of Gibeon in the Binyamin region. According to the IDF and the Binyamin Regional Council, excavators, concrete, and other materials were seized before they could be used in large-scale construction at the site. The Guardians of Eternity organization, which monitors Jewish heritage locations, first identified the activity and warned that the proposed work—concrete pouring, terrace clearing, and asphalt preparation—would have caused irreversible damage to the archaeological remains.

The site of Gibeon, located just north of Jerusalem near the Palestinian village of Al Jib, has long been vulnerable due to its location outside the Jerusalem security barrier. Guardians of Eternity officials stressed that greater protection and accessibility are needed to safeguard it against future attempts at destruction. Biblically, Gibeon holds immense significance: it was where Joshua made a covenant with the Gibeonites, the setting of the battle where “the sun stood still” (Joshua 10), and the location of key discoveries such as the massive pool mentioned in 2 Samuel, the famed “Gibeon cisterns,” and an underground water system still linked to a spring. Israeli officials say preserving such a site is crucial not only for history but for protecting Israel’s biblical heritage.

SOURCE: World Israel News