Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has ordered the suspension of archaeological excavations near the planned city of Modi’in in deference to the objections of the haredi, or fervently Orthodox, Jews.
His decision was protested by the Israeli Association of Archaeologists, which called it a capitulation to haredi dictates. Members of the association called it a dangerous precedent.
The haredim say the archaeologists are violating Jewish law by digging up bones. They say the bones are buried in a graveyard dating to the Second Temple period, Israel Radio reported.
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