Controversy Surrounds Israel's Plan to Relocate Ancient Christian Mosaic to US Evangelical Museum

Israeli officials are considering uprooting an ancient Christian mosaic, known as the Megiddo Mosaic, and loaning it to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, a move that has sparked controversy among archaeologists. The mosaic, which bears an early reference to Jesus as God, was discovered in 2005 near the site believed to be Armageddon. The proposed loan highlights the growing ties between Israel and evangelical Christians in the US, who provide political support and tourism dollars. Critics argue that removing the mosaic from its original location and exhibiting it at the Museum of the Bible could strip it of its historical context and serve an ideological agenda.