RAMALLAH: On February 13, The Israeli Museum in Jerusalem will open an exhibition called “Herod the Great: The King's Final Journey". The display will include the reconstructed tomb and sarcophagus of King Herod, the man the Bible claims ruled at the time of Jesus' birth. The display opens in spite of Palestinian protest. The tomb of King Herod is located inside of the occupied West Bank at Herodium, near Bethlehem, and many of the artifacts to be displayed were excavated there. The Palestinian authorities claim they were not consulted in regard to the exhibit. Historical records and the Bible depict King Herod, the Jewish proxy of the Roman Empire, as a ruthless and calculating ruler. The Bible tells of his murder of all newborns in Bethlehem to prevent the ascension of Jesus. He was also known for his extravagant construction projects, including the construction of a palace near Bethlehem, his tomb and the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Palestinians say that the removal of the artifacts violates international antiquities law, according tothe BBC. “The excavation is another example of utilization of archaeology and history for ideological purposes…which will not serve to establish comprehensive peace between the two peoples, the Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” said HamdanTaha, the assistant deputy minister in charge of antiquities in the Palestinian Authority. The direct of the Israeli Museum, James Snyder, said that he had not received complaints from the Palestinian Authority and that all artifacts will be returned to their original resting places once the exhibition closes, reports AP. BN