Israel expands expropriation of Palestinian archaeological sites, sparking heritage and settlement controversy

Nabi Samwil, a hill north of Jerusalem that houses a mosque and a tomb revered by Muslims, Jews and Christians, has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. In 1995 Israel designated 350 hectares of its archaeological zone as a national park, limiting Palestinian construction and displacing many residents; today only a few hundred Palestinians remain. In May, the Israeli civil administration issued an expropriation order for about 11 hectares around the sanctuary, marking the first seizure of a Waqf-administered holy place in the West Bank.

The pattern repeated at Sebastia, where UNESCO recently listed the site as World Heritage in Danger; in February 2026 Israel expropriated roughly 200 hectares, including private Palestinian property, prompting fears of separating the ruins from the nearby town. Israeli authorities claim the measures protect ancient sites and boost tourism, while groups like Peace Now, Emek Shaveh and Settlement Watch argue the moves use archaeology to control land, reshape historical narratives, and create “tourist settlements.” A draft law to place West Bank heritage under a new ministry-run authority has also been tabled, drawing criticism from Israel’s own Academy of Sciences.