Key facts
- Israeli authorities are expropriating about 450 acres of land around the ancient West Bank site of Sebastia.
- Palestinian landowners state the expropriation is akin to having their 'soul ripped away'.
- Unesco has declared Sebastia a World Heritage Site and added it to the List of World Heritage in Danger.
- Unesco's primary concern is the planned expropriation and creation of the 'Samaria' national park.
- Israeli activists and Palestinian officials accuse Israel of using archaeology to seize land and control heritage sites.
- Israel is also expropriating land near the Herodium archaeological site for 'preservation and development'.
Israeli authorities are proceeding with the expropriation of approximately 450 acres of land surrounding the ancient archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian landowners, such as Abu Mudif, describe the seizure as a profound loss of their heritage and livelihood, with plans to develop the area into a national park. Local residents, like restaurant owner Nahed Sakha, fear the Israeli plans aim to cut them off from the site, which holds historical significance across multiple eras, including ancient Jewish, Roman, Crusader, and Ottoman periods.
Unesco has recently designated Sebastia as a World Heritage Site and added it to its List of World Heritage in Danger, citing the planned expropriation and the creation of the 'Samaria' national park as a primary threat. The site's division between areas under Palestinian civil and Israeli security control, and areas under full Israeli control, further complicates access and management.
Israeli activist Alon Arad, from the group Emek Shaveh, contends that Israeli authorities have bypassed consultation with the local community, asserting that the heritage site belongs to all communities and requires collaborative development. The proposed changes include moving the entrance of Sebastia away from the village, impacting local businesses and residents.
Further south, near Jerusalem, Israel has also begun expropriating about 80 acres of land at the Herodium archaeological site. Peace Now, an Israeli organization, points out that such expropriations are restricted under international law and Israeli Supreme Court rulings unless they serve both populations, suggesting the rationale is linked to settlement expansion.
While Israeli officials and guides like Shmuel Browns emphasize a responsibility to protect and oversee the historical and religious significance of these sites, activists like Alon Arad argue that archaeology is being 'weaponised' in the West Bank. A proposed law that would grant the Israeli heritage ministry sweeping powers to seize land for archaeological preservation across the West Bank has passed its first parliamentary reading but is currently on hold.