From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Dozens of archaeologists petition High Court to block appointment of new Antiquities Authority head
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleRossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
A group of over 60 archaeologists petitions the High Court of Justice to block the appointment of Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu’s pick for the head of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The group says in a statement that they are asking the court to annul both the search committee’s decision to recommend candidate Esti Schreiber for the position of IAA director-general and the minister’s decision to select her. The group also wants the court to require that the IAA Council convene and discuss Schreiber’s candidacy.
The petition is based on alleged procedural issues. The group states that the minister ordered the establishment of a search committee without receiving a request to do so from the IAA Council; he placed the Heritage Ministry’s director general at the head of the search committee rather than a professional figure, detailed inadequate selection criteria; and he did not make a decision about extending the tenure of the current IAA director general.
At the same time, the petitioners described Schreiber as a political appointee lacking the necessary qualifications to lead the IAA.
The Times of Israel Community.