In addition to his stellar scientific career, Prof. Yuval Ne'eman devoted many years to public service. At the beginning of the 1980s, Ne'eman joined the political arena, through which he sought to actualize his ideological beliefs, such as by helping to establish dozens of Jewish settlements in Juda and Samaria. This article explores his contribution to the advancement of archeological research in Judea and Samaria, which stemmed from his desire to strengthen Israel's ties to this patrimony. Recentlyreleased archival files reveal his substantial behind-the-scenes activity in this field. He established and headed the Israel Ministry of Science and Development, which carried out surveys and excavations in peripheral areas, particularly in Judea and Samaria. His decisive contribution resulted in an unprecedented research drive in this region. Governmental backing, public support, and prevailing calm in terms of security, encouraged senior Israeli archeologists to participate in archeological research over the Green Line, although they could have done so for the preceding 15 years. The result was a golden age of archeology in Judea and Samaria, which has not recurred up to the present day (2021).
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