Israel advanced a bill on Tuesday that would grant sweeping civilian authority over antiquities and archaeology in the occupied West Bank, replacing the current military-run system. The Likud-backed legislation would create a "Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority" under the Israeli heritage minister, empowered to purchase and expropriate land, oversee excavations, and manage heritage sites across Areas B and C of the West Bank. The bill passed its first of three votes (23-14) and would be led by Amichai Eliyahu, a far-right politician who advocates for annexation. Human rights groups and the Israeli NGO Emek Shaveh warned the move amounts to de facto annexation and a violation of Palestinian rights.
This matters because archaeology in the occupied West Bank is deeply politicized, with heritage sites often used as tools in territorial disputes between Israelis and Palestinians. If enacted, the bill would structurally exclude Palestinian participation in heritage governance, potentially escalating tensions and damaging Israel's international standing. The legislation follows recent clashes over sites like Tell es-Sultan and Sebastia, and could set a precedent for further Israeli encroachment on Palestinian land and cultural heritage under the guise of preservation.