17 February 2026
For some time the Greek Archaeology Association has taken a strong position against Israel’s deliberate destruction of archaeological sites in Gaza and has sought to persuade the European Association of Archaeologists to suspend the membership of the Israeli Association, just as it suspended the Russians and Belarussians after Russia invaded Ukraine and damaged its archaeological heritage. But despite the Greeks’ best efforts, they have failed to persuade the European Association to act consistently against the Israelis. Here is the Greeks’ statement in English translation.
To the Executive Board
European Association of Archaeologists
10 February 2026
Following the unanimous decision of its Executive Board, the Association of Greek Archaeologists hereby formally notifies you of its decision to withdraw from participation in the Advisory Committee of the Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists, scheduled to take place in Athens in 2026.
Several years ago, the EAA decided to exclude academic and research institutions from the Russian Federation and Belarus from its activities, acknowledging the criminal and systematic destruction of museums, archaeological sites, and collections in Ukraine by the armed forces of those states—a position that remains in force. In the lead-up to the EAA Annual Meeting held online in August 2025 in Belgrade, a substantial number of EAA members, including members of the Executive Board of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, called for the exclusion of academic and research institutions representing the State of Israel, on the same grounds, namely the documented destruction of museums, archaeological sites, and collections in the Gaza Strip during the prolonged Israeli military operations. Although the EAA Executive Board initially appeared to support this request, it ultimately rejected it, resulting in the withdrawal of sessions and papers immediately prior to the meeting and causing serious damage to the credibility of the Association, which until then had not appeared to apply differentiated standards or political selectivity.
Despite the fact that the question of excluding institutions representing the State of Israel was again raised in connection with the organisation of the Athens meeting, it has become evident that the Association, under the responsibility of its Executive Board, does not apply a clear, consistent, and unified policy towards actors responsible for the destruction of human cultural heritage—one based on a shared and indivisible framework of principles and values.
We wish to recall that our Association has taken a public position against the ongoing genocidal policy of the State of Israel in Gaza, continuing despite the ceasefire, in connection with which the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Prime Minister of Israel and head of its government, Benjamin Netanyahu, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. As stated in our announcement of 4 March 2025, we have called upon the Greek archaeological community, including the Ministry of Culture, universities, and research institutions, to refrain from any cooperation with the State of Israel or in service of its state policies, while clearly distinguishing between institutional bodies and individual Israeli scholars.
We had initially welcomed our participation in the organisation of the EAA Annual Meeting in Athens as an important opportunity for critical exchange on the social role and political dimensions of archaeology in the current international context. However, should the EAA ultimately decide not to exclude institutions representing the State of Israel, the Association of Greek Archaeologists—whose primary mission for the past 66 years has been the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage—cannot continue its participation in the Advisory Committee of a leading professional body when, in our assessment, this participation would conflict with the fundamental ethical values of our discipline.
It is understood that this decision will be subject to reconsideration should the position of the EAA change and align with the call expressed by thousands of archaeologists across Europe.
Sincerely,
The Executive Board
Association of Greek Archaeologists
