Israel Advances Bill Granting Sweeping Civilian Authority over West Bank Archaeological Sites
Israel advanced a Likud-backed bill with a 23–14 vote that would create a new “Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority” to assume sweeping civilian control over antiquities and archaeology in the occupied West Bank. As reported by Haaretz and covered by ARTnews, the proposed body—under the Israeli heritage minister—would have exclusive responsibility for heritage, antiquities, and archaeology, including the ability to purchase and expropriate land, and would take over roles currently handled by an IDF-appointed archaeology staff officer in the West Bank Civil Administration. If enacted after two additional votes, its jurisdiction would extend into Area B as well as Area C, and disputes over holy sites would be subject to Israeli law; Amichai Eliyahu of the ultranationalist Otzma Yehudit party has been tapped to lead it. The NGO Emek Shaveh warned the bill would structurally exclude Palestinian participation and could amount to de facto annexation of antiquities sites, with severe consequences for Palestinian rights and Israel’s international standing.
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This story was covered in Blue Pools, Stolen Jewels, and Museum Power Plays