Dear colleagues and friends of the DEI,
The symposium and celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of the DEI, scheduled to take place
from 5 to 9 October 2026, were intended to embody the Institute’s commitment to free academic
exchange in the field of archaeology and to scholarship conducted openly across borders.
Over the past weeks and months, however, many colleagues and friends have decided not to attend the
125th-anniversary celebrations. In numerous phone calls and emails, they have cited in particular
- the volatile security situation in the Middle East,
- the safety warnings issued by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (and other
European countries) regarding Israel, - the safety warnings issued by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (and other
European countries) regarding the Palestinian territories, and - a range of political reservations.
.
One of our sponsors has likewise expressed serious doubts as to whether it would be appropriate to
proceed with the celebrations under the present circumstances. Over the past two weeks, participants
who had already registered have begun to withdraw, and even invited speakers have voiced substantial
reservations. In view of these strong reactions, particularly from colleagues and friends elsewhere in Europe, I regret
that I have no choice but to cancel the academic symposium and the anniversary celebrations planned
for Jerusalem and Bethlehem in 2026. After the cancellation in 2023, this is now the second time that
we have had to take this step. It is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make during my
tenure as Director.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to organizing the
celebrations, and to all those who had intended to contribute to the occasion through their welcome
addresses, excursions, and scholarly presentations. I deeply regret the inconvenience and disappointment that this decision will cause.
Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that it will soon once again be possible to pursue the archaeology of the
southern Levant freely and across borders. I will continue to work towards that goal with the utmost
commitment.
Dieter Vieweger, Director of the DEI