politics
Israeli bill advances plan for heritage sites in West Bank
An Israeli bill that would place ancient sites in the West Bank under the Ministry of Heritage passed one of three required votes in parliament in May. The measure would allow expropriation of land around the sites and has drawn objections from Palestinian officials and Israeli rights groups.
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An Israeli bill that would place ancient sites in the West Bank under the Ministry of Heritage passed one of three required votes in parliament in May. The measure would allow expropriation and purchase of real estate around Roman, Byzantine and Crusader-era sites and would transfer oversight from the Palestinian Authority, which has administered parts of the territory under the Oslo accords.
The bill remains pending and it is unclear whether a final vote will occur before parliament disperses ahead of elections expected by October 27. Israeli officials say the legislation aims to protect ancient remnants. Palestinian tourism minister Hani Al-Hayek said the plan would expand settlements inside Palestinian territories.
Land measures near Sebastia In late 2025, Israeli authorities announced plans to seize about 1,800 dunams near the village of Sebastia, affecting roughly 5,000 olive trees, village officials said. Sebastia Deputy Mayor Nizar Kayed said the areas include water resources, roads and antiquities.
Nahed Sakha, who runs a restaurant in Sebastia on land slated for confiscation, said tourism has declined since late 2023 because of regional conflict. The ancient site contains ruins from the 9th-century B.C. Israelite kingdom and later periods and is on a tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.
Israeli and international reactions Israeli parliament member Zvi Sukkot, who advanced the bill, said extending control would safeguard biblical-era ties and would not change the legal status of the territory. Sukkot belongs to the Religious Zionism party and opposes creation of a Palestinian state.
The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities sent an open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sukkot urging that the bill be dropped, citing risks to international archaeological cooperation. U.N. bodies and most countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention; Israel disputes that position and cites security needs and historical connections.
