Border Police discover Second Temple-period burial cave during operations in east Jerusalem

Border Police officers discovered an ancient burial cave dating to the Second Temple period (516 BCE to 70 CE) in the Silwan neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem. The discovery occurred during ongoing police operations investigating a violent clash between two families over the weekend that resulted in three deaths. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is surveying the site, which also contained other archaeological artifacts. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized media reporting on the incident, stating that two of the three deceased were shot by police after posing “active threats” by wielding blunt instruments, blades, and Molotov cocktails. Ben-Gvir commented, “This is exactly the mind games I was talking about.”