Israel must return to Egypt within two years thousands of ancient artifacts it dug up in the Sinai desert, according to an agreement recently reached between the two countries.
During the nearly two decades that Israel held the Sinai after capturing it in war from Egypt, Israeli archaeologists conducted hundreds of digs.
But when Israel agreed to return the land as part of the Camp David peace treaty, it was also understood that Israel would eventually have to return the archeological finds after completing research on the objects.
A team of Egyptian officials and archaeologists has visited Israel to discuss implementation of international agreements, which rule in certain cases that ancient artifacts must be returned to the country in which they were found.
The accords stipulate, however, that researchers be given five years to complete scientific studies and investigation, according to Professor Amir Drori, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Some Israeli archaeologists here said they were unhappy with the agreement, demanding more time to complete their research. They claim they should be given more time in light of the fact that Egypt, when it did control the Sinai, showed little interest in digs east of the Suez Canal and carried out no expeditions in the Sinai.
Between 1972 and 1982, over 1,300 archaeological sites were mapped by Israeli archaeologist Eliezer Oren in this previously neglected region.
At these sites, thousands of ancient pots, coins, statues, and glass and stone artifacts were uncovered, in addition to papyrus and other documents written in ancient Hebrew and Arabic.
Most of these findings have been placed under the care of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The process of transferring the artifacts to the Egyptian authorities will begin shortly, and complete Israeli-Egyptian cooperation is expected.
Oren has said that he sees the process of returning the findings as an impetus for the beginning of positive cooperation with the Egyptians on cultural issues and the start of an archeological dialogue.
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