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American top diplomat the chief US diplomat has opened a disputed historical attraction led by an Israeli settler group in occupied East Jerusalem.

America's chief foreign envoy was a guest of honour at the launch of the so-called "Pilgrimage Road", a tunnel dug under local residences near Jerusalem's Old City.

The inaugural gathering took place at the City of David, a religious heritage attraction run by the Elad settler organisation in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan.

Mr Rubio's presence was denounced by local advocacy organizations as providing US backing to the Israeli "grip of settlement" near the city's revered religious landmarks.

Local Inhabitants Confront Eviction Orders

Locals of the neighborhood have for a long time faced eviction orders and home demolitions to allow for Israeli housing projects and the enlargement of the archaeological park, according to advocacy organizations. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

"Perhaps one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet", Mr Rubio characterized the project, noting it had deep meaning to people in the United States. He previously said he recognized "people want to involve politics in it"… "However, ultimately, this remains a remarkable historical find".

Local Viewpoints

Local inhabitant Fakhri Abu Diab, 63, said Mr Rubio was choosing to back hardliners in the Israeli government instead of being on the side of international law.

"He is ignoring our [Palestinian] history", he said. "He isn't visiting when they are demolishing our homes, ethnic cleansing and kicking us out of here".

Mr Abu Diab spoke beside the mangled wreckage of his residence, which was torn down recently at the order of Israeli authorities. Israel says such homes are built without permits, but permits are exceedingly difficult for Palestinians to obtain.

Settler Role and Global Response

The archaeological park has been operated since the early 2000s by Elad, which has acquired properties, acquired Palestinian homes and advocated for the eviction of Palestinian families in the area, as stated in a recent study by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry.

Ze'ev Orenstein of the City of David told news agencies: "All the archaeological excavations are carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority according to the highest standards". He declined to answer further questions.

The excavation is said to trace the path of a Roman-era street taken by worshippers to the site revered by Jews as the place of two ancient sanctuaries. According to Peace Now, the tunnel stretches 600 metres from the neighborhood, running beneath Palestinian homes and the Old City walls, ending near the foundations of the Kotel.

The group called Rubio's visit "a clear US endorsement of Israeli control over a highly contested area". The group stated: "[W]hat stands behind its opening is a trampling of Jerusalem as a city sacred to all faiths and belonging to all its residents".