Rubio visits Jerusalem archeological site in boost to Israel's claims

16/9/2025 19:13

Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited a contentious archeological site beneath Jerusalem on Monday, giving U.S. backing to a Jewish settler-led project that critics say undermines prospects for a future Palestinian state.



The visit, from which international and local media were barred, marked the latest endorsement by the Trump administration of initiatives that opponents say are aimed at cementing Israel’s claims to East Jerusalem, which Palestinians view as the capital of a future state.



The City of David archeological park sits in the shadow of the elevated compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, a flashpoint that has triggered outbreaks of violence over the decades and remains at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.