American Secretary of State Inaugurates Israeli Settlement-Backed Archaeological Project in Jerusalem

American Secretary of State the chief US diplomat has inaugurated a disputed historical attraction operated by an Israeli settler group in occupied East Jerusalem.

The United States' top diplomat was a guest of honour at the launch of the termed "Pilgrimage Road", a tunnel uncovered under Palestinian homes next to Jerusalem's Old City.

The inaugural gathering took place at the City of David, a biblical tourism site operated by the Elad settler organisation in the district of Silwan.

Mr Rubio's appearance was condemned by Palestinian rights groups as giving American support to Israel's "grip of settlement" close to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy sites.

Silwan Inhabitants Face Eviction Notices

Inhabitants of the neighborhood have for years faced eviction orders and property destructions to make way for Israeli housing projects and the expansion of the heritage site, according to rights groups. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

"Perhaps one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet", the Secretary described the excavation, noting it had deep meaning to people in the United States. He previously said he recognized "people want to involve politics in it"… "But at the end of the day, it's an extraordinary archaeological site".

Palestinian Perspectives

Local inhabitant Fakhri Abu Diab, in his sixties, said Mr Rubio was siding with extremists in the Israeli government instead of being on the side of international law.

"He is ignoring our [Palestinian] history", he said. "He does not witness the home demolitions, forced displacements, and systematic erasure occurring here".

Mr Abu Diab spoke beside the debris of his residence, which was demolished last year at the directive of Israeli authorities. Officials says such properties are constructed illegally, but these are almost impossible for local residents to secure.

Settler Role and Global Reaction

The archaeological park has been operated since the early 2000s by a settler organization, which has appropriated land, acquired local houses and pushed for the removal of Palestinian families in the area, as stated in a July study by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry.

A representative of the City of David told news agencies: "Every dig is conducted under strict professional guidelines by authorized bodies". He refused to answer additional inquiries.

The project is said to mark the path of a ancient street taken by pilgrims to the site revered by Jews as the place of two Biblical temples. According to an Israeli advocacy group, the tunnel extends 0.6 kilometers from Silwan, running underneath Palestinian homes and the historic fortifications, ending close to the base of the Kotel.

The group called the Secretary's appearance "a clear US endorsement of Israeli control over a highly contested area". The group stated: "This move undermines Jerusalem's multi-religious character and disregards the rights of its diverse inhabitants".