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Mrs. Chaya Yonah
Dec 4, 2025
While the world debates borders, Israeli archaeologists uncover a Hasmonean royal complex on a Jordan Valley mountaintop.
High above the Jordan Valley, on the sharp peak of Sartaba (Alexandrium), Israeli archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a previously unknown royal palace.
The Discovery: The excavation, led by Dr. Dvir Raviv of Bar-Ilan University, has revealed a massive royal complex on the fortress's northwestern slope. The finds suggest the site—originally built by the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus and later used by Herod the Great—was far more extensive than historian Josephus ever recorded.
The "Silent" War: Crucially, this discovery highlights a disturbing new front in the war against Israel: the academic boycott. Reports indicate that Israeli archaeologists working in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) are being "effectively blacklisted" by international journals, unable to publish their findings due to the location of the digs. While the stones are revealing Jewish sovereignty, the academic world is trying to mute them.
ZAH Perspective:
There is no "statute of limitations" on indigenous history. Finding a royal palace from the Hasmonean dynasty (the Maccabees) in the heart of the Jordan Valley is concrete proof of deep, sovereign Jewish roots in this strategic region. The attempt by international academics to "blacklist" these findings is an attempt to erase history that doesn't fit their political narrative. They are trying to hide the evidence that Jews are not "colonialists" but returnees.
Advocacy Angle:
Talking Point: "You cannot colonize the land of your ancestors."
SHARE: Use this story to fight the "settler colonialist" lie. Share the news of the Hasmonean Palace with the caption: “Archaeology is the enemy of the anti-Zionist narrative. 2,000 years ago, Jewish kings ruled the Jordan Valley from this palace. We are home.”
Prayer Point:
"For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it." Habakkuk 2:11
God of Eternity, we thank You that the Land itself is a witness to Your covenant. As the world tries to divide Your land, You are bringing its hidden history to light. We pray for the archaeologists working to uncover the truth. Protect them and give them a voice that cannot be censored. Let every stone they turn over be a testimony that shouts down the lies of our enemies.