BARlines

Jordanian Ambassador Cancels Reception for Sauer Lecture Because of Mention of Israelites

No American archaeologist is more highly respected and admired in Jordan than James A. Sauer, president of the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR). For seven years, Sauer served as director of ASOR’s Amman school, the American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR). Sauer has taught at the University of Jordan and is a close personal friend of many Jordanian archaeologists, including Adnan Hadidi, director of the Jordanian Department of Antiquities. No one is more closely attuned to Jordanian archaeological sensitivities than Sauer.

It was only natural that the Jordanian ambassador to Washington, Ibrahim Izzidin, offered to host a reception at his ambassadorial residence for students enrolled in a Smithsonian lecture course on “Ancient Peoples in Conflict: Archaeology of the Middle East,” to follow the opening lecture in the series to be delivered by Sauer in Washington on January 22.

The Jordanian embassy reception was widely publicized by the Smithsonian in its effort to sign up students. Then the Jordanian ambassador learned the title of Sauer’s lecture: “Ammonites and Israelites.” The reception at the ambassador’s residence was abruptly cancelled.

Embarrassed and concerned because of the promise made to the students for an ambassadorial reception, the Smithsonian called the Israeli embassy. A reception at the Israeli embassy was hastily arranged.