By Tom Brennan
If you have seen the 1960 movie Exodus you will recognize Akko or Acre. It is the scene for a historic Irgun-led prison break from a forbidding fortress/prison where the British kept prisoners they regarded as dangerous to peace in their Mandated territory. That prison/fortress is now a historic shrine to Israel’s past and the heroes who endured harsh treatment at the hands of the British Empire until 1947.
Akko has a history that dates far back beyond the 1918 Mandates into the Canaanite times when it was a thriving seaport. The city served its conquerors, Seleucid/Hellenistic, Roman and later overlords well. But during the turbulent period of the Crusades the city rose to prominence as a headquarters for the Knights Hospitalers. This was a time when orders of European knights were formed of fighting men at arms who took the vows of ascetic monks and brothers and journeyed to the Holy Land in various expeditions,. They established European style kingdoms and built impressive castles and fortifications. The invasions were unsuccessful and eventually the Latins were forced to retreat. The Ottomans built a city over the remains of the Frankish city and literally created a wonder to behold as seen today.
Akko has been laregly ignored by tourists until recently. Jerusalem and the other well publicized sites have put Akko down the list. But the discovery of a well preserved Frankish city from the 11the and 12th century underground has moved it into archaeological prominence. The city was Israel’s first United Nations World Heritage site. Now as excavations are under way, a signiificant part of Israel’s past is being uncovered. The site is being treated as a learning laboratoty by the State Archaeological Deprtment and students the world over are learning excavation and preservation techniques.
This is all good for tourism and a delicate balance of archaeology and marketing is being managed to keep life under a normal state for local citizens and residents. Tourism carries a mixed package of financial profit for local artisans and merchants but usually results in increased costs and disruption of daily life for residents. What had been a quiet street life scene can be accelerated by an inflow of offshore tourists. There is a proactive program to develop a tourism environment here that allows for a gradual integration of commerce and local culture.
The period of European invasions of Israel and the Near East and the often tragic results for Jews, Muslims and non-European Christians has had long lasting effects.Seeingwell preserved structures, graffiti from visitors in the past, the architectural differences in European and Eastern world views and attitudes make a visit to Akko well worth a tourist’s time. Israel’s history is one of historic proportions by any means. All the world seems to have passed through this place from one time or another. Canaanites, Akexander’s generals, Knights, Napoleon and the British Empire have come and gone. Their relics and visible signatures are everywhere in Akko. Come and see for yourself when you visit The Land.
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Juanita Bonde says
Amazing