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The Arab World Institute in Paris is putting Palestinian heritage on display in its new exhibit “Rescued Treasures from Gaza : 5000 Years of History”. Story by Caroline Baum.
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A 6th century mosaic, 4,000 year old ceramics or a statue of Aphrodite
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All priceless treasures rescued from Gaza, today a city under siege. In a new exhibit showcasing artifacts from Gaza
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curators of the Arab World Institute hope to paint a more complete picture
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of the region's history as an economic crossroads. Gaza is really a culmination of major caravan routes
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This meeting of sand and sea that made Gaza's location strategic means that today in the new town, if we were to dig
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we would find more than eight successive layers of civilization. Despite the exhibit's focus on the past
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its origins are inextricably linked to today's conflict in the Middle East
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The Arab World Institute was finalizing an exhibit on the ancient city of Biblos in Lebanon
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when Israeli bombs began to fall on Beirut. The transport of these artifacts suddenly became impossible
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Empty-handed, the Institute turned its attention to artifacts held in Geneva by the Palestinian Authority
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The result? A never-before-seen glimpse into Gaza's rich past. This exhibit is unique and unprecedented
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It's the first time that relics or pieces that tell the story of this history have been presented in this form
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But it also has an ethical and political meaning. We want to say to the people of Gaza, stand firm
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And in our own way, we're standing by you. It's a response not through violence, but through culture, through science, through knowledge, through art
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Palestinian historical sites and artifacts are still at great risk. As Gaza faces a new round of attacks from Israel, UNESCO has called for increased protection
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