UK: Gov't, media attack Israel, Netanyahu, for daring to conduct archeolgoical excavations in ancient Jerusalem

Via the Independent:

Isareli settlers are colonising Palestinian territory under the guise of moving in to areas to protect historic archaeological sites, the British government has said.

Ministers say they are concerned that the Israeli government agency in charge of preserving historic artefacts is undermining efforts for peace in the region by working with a group of “radical” settlers.

The ‘Elad’ settler group is known for aggressively colonising Palestinian areas, including evicting Palestinian residents from homes in urban areas.

(...) 

Civil servants in the Foreign Office have long believed that Mr Netanyahu is an “armour-placed bullshitter”, according to revelations published in a new book by the last Labour government’s communications director Alastair Campbell. 

The new book in question is from 2011.

The article is full of accusations against Israel, but does not bring even one response from the Israeli side.

The site in question is Silwan, known in Hebrew as Ir David (City of David), the site of First Temple Jerusalem.   The Elad settlers 'evict' Arabs by buying their houses.

But let's not get confused by facts.

Meanwhile, Palestinians are destroying the Temple Mount, Judaism's most holy site, and robbing archaeological sites across the country, but that is not something that British ministers really care about.