Israel pushes legislation to oversee holy sites in biblical Samaria

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Sebastia. Photo: Danita Delimont

Israel is advancing a bill to establish control over archaeological and religious sites in Judea and Samaria, reports theartnewspaper.

A bill titled “On the Management of Jewish Heritage in Judea and Samaria” has already passed its first of three readings in the Knesset. If finally adopted, the management of monuments from the Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as from the Crusader era, would be transferred to Israel’s Ministry of Heritage. The law also provides the ministry with the authority to purchase and expropriate land and real estate in the West Bank.

Critics of the initiative argue that it is not so much about preserving cultural heritage as it is about expanding Israeli control over disputed territories. Palestinian representatives and human rights organizations believe that the document could contribute to the strengthening of settlement policy. Israeli scholars also warn of possible difficulties in international archaeological cooperation.

Particular attention in the discussion is being paid to the fate of Christian shrines from the Byzantine period and the time of the Crusaders. Among the sites mentioned is the archaeological complex in the village of Sebastia, which contains monuments from various historical periods, including Christian ones.

Tayla Ezrahi, the head of International Relations and Advocacy at NGO Emek Shaveh, however, says: “The Israeli argument that the expropriation of 1,800 dunams of land from the residents of Sebastia and Aqraba is necessary is pure gaslighting. Israel claims that the land must be confiscated in order to protect the site, yet it already exercises full enforcement powers over the area. The expropriation is in fact intended to facilitate the development of the site, the construction of a road that will bring Israelis from Area C, and the fencing off of the site to block Palestinian access. None of these measures are in any way related to preservation; rather, they serve as tools to push Palestinians out of the site.”

As the UOJ previously reported, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's seizure of lands belonging to the Jerusalem Church.

Read also