🔗 Share this article US Chief Diplomat of State Launches Israel-Based Settler-Led Archaeological Project in the Holy City The US Secretary of State speaks at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport before departing for Qatar on Tuesday US Secretary of State the chief US diplomat has inaugurated a controversial historical attraction operated by an Israeli settler group in occupied East Jerusalem. The United States' top diplomat was a special invitee at the launch of the termed "Pilgrim's Path", a tunnel uncovered under Palestinian homes next to Jerusalem's Old City. The opening ceremony took place at the City of David, a biblical tourism site run by the Elad settler organisation in the district of Silwan. The Secretary's presence was criticized by Palestinian rights groups as providing US backing to the Israeli "expansionist policies" close to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy sites. Local Residents Confront Eviction Orders Inhabitants of Silwan have for years been subject to displacement notices and home demolitions to pave the way for Jewish settlements and the expansion of the archaeological park, according to rights groups. Settlements are prohibited under international law. "Among the world's most significant historical discoveries", Mr Rubio described the dig, saying it had deep meaning to Americans in the US. He previously said he recognized "people want to involve politics in it"… "However, ultimately, this remains a remarkable historical find". Local Viewpoints Local inhabitant a community representative, 63, said the US official was siding with hardliners in the Israeli government instead of being on the side of international law. "Our heritage is being overlooked", he said. "He isn't visiting when they are demolishing our homes, ethnic cleansing and kicking us out of here". The resident spoke next to the mangled wreckage of his residence, which was torn down last year at the order of Israeli authorities. Israel claims such properties are constructed illegally, but these are almost impossible for local residents to obtain. Settler Involvement and International Response The City of David has been operated since the early 2000s by a settler organization, which has appropriated land, acquired Palestinian homes and advocated for the removal of Palestinian families in Silwan, according to a recent report 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 excavation is said to mark the route of a ancient street taken by pilgrims to the site sacred in Judaism as the place of two ancient sanctuaries. As reported by an Israeli advocacy group, the passageway extends 0.6 kilometers from the neighborhood, running underneath Palestinian homes and the Old City walls, ending close to the foundations of the Western Wall. The group called the Secretary's appearance "nothing less than American recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the most sensitive part of Jerusalem's Holy Basin". The group added: "This move undermines Jerusalem's multi-religious character and disregards the rights of its diverse inhabitants".