Khaberni - The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission revealed the intentions of the occupying authorities to seize a total of 4600 dunams from the towns of Sebastia and Burqa in Nablus governorate, through an expropriation order numbered (2/25) targeting the archaeological site in the area.
The head of the commission, Moayyad Sha'ban, stated in a press release issued by the commission on Tuesday, that the decision represents a serious escalation within a scheme that relies on "infiltration through heritage" as a means for gradual annexation, by employing Palestinian archaeological heritage to cement Israeli control and transform it into a settler and political tool.
He explained that this step is not isolated, but rather occurs within the context of ongoing legislative and legal actions through which the occupation state seeks to impose a de facto annexation of the West Bank under the guise of protecting archaeological sites.
Sha'ban pointed out that a bill proposed in the Knesset by right-wing members, which would expand the so-called Israeli Antiquities Authority's powers to include the West Bank territories, signifies an actual annexation of these lands within the administrative and legal structure of the occupation, opening the door to a form of disguised legal annexation.
He added that this escalation followed extensive governmental measures where the occupation government announced large sums dedicated to controlling archaeological sites in the West Bank, claiming the existence of 3064 Jewish heritage sites across various areas of the West Bank, including 2452 sites in Area C, which is fully under occupation control.
Sha'ban continued, stating that in May 2023, the occupation government allocated 32 million shekels to develop Tel Sebastia as an archaeological tourist site, in a move that reflects a clear political project aimed at reshaping the identity of the place and imposing an Israeli narrative at the expense of the Palestinian historical narrative.
Sha'ban affirmed that the current announcement comes as a continuation of a series of military orders issued two months ago, which included 63 archaeological sites in the governorates of Nablus, Ramallah, and Salfit, indicating a strategic expansion plan to control archaeological sites and their geographical surroundings.
He called for a broad Palestinian, Arab, and international movement to confront the expropriation decision and expose the occupation's use of cultural heritage as a legal cover for annexation, emphasizing the necessity of submitting urgent legal objections and activating diplomatic and legal tools in this case.
