Since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, countless artefacts have been unearthed and removed by state-sponsored archaeologists and freelance raiders, often for the wrong reasons.

Among the most serious crimes in the archaeological hall of shame are the exploits of General Moshe Dayan, a stealthy tomb-raider and high-ranking politician who gained notoriety for engaging in uncontrolled robbery digs, often under the guise of military missions.