Turkey Refuses to Return Siloam Inscription to Israel – Complete History, Significance, and 2025 Dispute

Turkey Rejects Israel’s Demand for the Siloam Inscription: A 2,800-Year-Old Treasure at the Center of Modern Diplomacy

Istanbul – 19 September 2025:

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has firmly announced that Ankara will not hand over the priceless Siloam Inscription to Israel. His statement followed fresh Israeli requests to repatriate the artifact, a demand Turkey says undermines its lawful stewardship. The announcement has intensified an already delicate cultural dispute between the two nations.

A Discovery That Rewrote Biblical Archaeology

The Siloam Inscription was discovered in 1880 by Jacob Eliyahu, a young student exploring Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a narrow underground aqueduct beneath Jerusalem’s ancient City of David in today’s Silwan neighborhood. Archaeologists quickly recognized it as one of the oldest known Hebrew inscriptions. Radiocarbon and epigraphic studies date the carving to the eighth century BCE, during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah.

Carved on a slab of limestone roughly 27 by 20 inches, the inscription is written in Paleo-Hebrew, a script related to early Phoenician writing. Its six lines—one now partially missing—describe in vivid detail how two teams of workers tunneled toward each other from opposite ends until their picks finally met, allowing water from the Gihon Spring to flow safely inside Jerusalem’s fortified walls.

The text notes that the tunnel stretched 1,200 cubits—around 550–600 meters (1,800 feet)—and that at some points the rock ceiling rose 100 cubits (about 45 meters). Scholars still marvel at the engineering precision achieved nearly 2,800 years ago.

Religious and Cultural Significance

For Judaism, the inscription provides rare physical evidence of the biblical Kingdom of Judah’s infrastructure and literacy. It is often cited alongside the Dead Sea Scrolls as proof of an enduring written Hebrew tradition. Christian historians value it for confirming passages in the Old Testament about King Hezekiah’s preparations against an Assyrian siege.

Although the stone does not hold direct theological weight in Islam, Jerusalem—known in Arabic as Al-Quds—is sacred to Muslims. Islamic scholars view the preservation of all prophetic heritage in the Holy City as part of a shared Abrahamic history, making the artifact important to the broader Muslim world as well.

How the Stone Reached Istanbul

After its discovery, the Ottoman authorities carefully removed the slab from the tunnel wall and transported it to Istanbul in 1890. Since then, it has been housed in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, where it remains a centerpiece of the collection. Turkish officials stress that this transfer occurred legally during the Ottoman era, decades before the creation of the modern state of Israel.

Israel’s Repatriation Efforts

Israel has repeatedly sought the return of the Siloam Inscription, most recently in early September 2025, arguing that the artifact is an inseparable part of Jewish heritage and should be exhibited either in the Israel Museum or the City of David archaeological park. Israeli cultural ministers call it “the oldest surviving monumental Hebrew text” and a national treasure that belongs in Jerusalem.

Turkey’s Firm Response

President Erdogan’s statement on 19 September 2025 left no ambiguity:

> “The Siloam Inscription is the legal property of the Republic of Turkey. It was preserved and protected by the Ottoman Empire and remains an integral part of our national heritage. We will not succumb to external pressure.”

Turkish cultural authorities emphasize that international law recognizes artifacts acquired under previous sovereign administrations as legitimate holdings. They also note that Istanbul’s museum allows global researchers and the public to access the stone in a secure environment.

Broader Global Debate

The standoff highlights a wider question facing museums worldwide: Should ancient artifacts be returned to their places of origin? UNESCO officials and leading archaeologists remain divided. Some argue that cultural restitution is a moral imperative, citing examples like the Parthenon Marbles. Others contend that long-term preservation and international accessibility—something Istanbul has provided for more than 140 years—outweigh nationalist claims.

What Comes Next

Diplomatic analysts believe Israel may push for formal mediation or bring the matter before UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property. Yet Turkey shows no sign of compromise. Given Ankara’s emphasis on cultural sovereignty and Israel’s insistence on repatriation, the dispute could persist for years, adding another layer of tension to already complex Middle East relations.

Conclusion

The Siloam Inscription is far more than a carved stone: it is a 2,800-year-old witness to biblical history, ancient engineering brilliance, and the intertwined heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Turkey’s decision to retain it underscores the growing global debate over who truly owns the past. As both nations hold their ground, this extraordinary artifact continues to unite—and divide—cultures across millennia.