SEBASTIA, Occupied West Bank — Palestinian residents of Sebastia say Israeli plans to expand and develop an archaeological site threaten their land, livelihoods and access to a historic area surrounding the ancient ruins. The dispute has intensified after UNESCO added Sebastia to its World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing planned land expropriation and the proposed creation of a new national park.
- About 450 acres around Sebastia are being taken over by Israeli authorities, according to Palestinian landowners.
- UNESCO has identified the planned expropriation and proposed national park as a major threat to the site.
- Another 80 acres near Herodium are being expropriated for what Israel describes as preservation and development.
- Critics say archaeological preservation is being used to expand Israeli control, while Israeli supporters say the sites require protection.
Sebastia landowners fear losing ancestral farmland
Above Sebastia’s ancient Roman remains are olive fields that Palestinian families have cultivated for generations. One landowner, Abu Mudif, says Israeli authorities have notified him that his property forms part of a roughly 450-acre area being taken over for the protection and development of the archaeological site.
For affected landowners, the dispute extends beyond the economic consequences of losing agricultural property. Abu Mudif described his attachment to the land as fundamental to his identity and said he could not imagine himself without it.
Palestinian landowners typically receive little or no payment in such expropriation cases, according to the report. Even where compensation is offered, many refuse because they believe accepting it would amount to recognising the loss of land they regard as part of their heritage.
Residents fear restricted access to archaeological site
The archaeological complex at Sebastia contains remains spanning several historical periods, including ancient Jewish, Roman, Crusader and Ottoman history. Local residents say restoration and excavation work has already begun and that landowners have been told they will not be permitted to use or plough their land.
Nahed Sakha, who owns a restaurant in the area that faces a demolition threat, said residents believe the Israeli plan could separate the Palestinian community from the archaeological site. The proposed changes would also relocate the site’s entrance away from the village, potentially affecting businesses and the way residents interact with the historic area.
The village mayor, Mohammed Azem, said residents are also concerned about maintaining parts of the ruins. The archaeological site crosses areas of the West Bank with different systems of Palestinian and Israeli control, adding another layer of complexity to access and management.
UNESCO places Sebastia on World Heritage in Danger list
UNESCO added Sebastia to its World Heritage List on July 25 through an emergency procedure and also placed it on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The UN cultural agency identified the planned expropriation and proposed creation of the “Samaria” or “Shomron” national park as a principal threat. UNESCO said the development could divide the heritage property.
Palestinian tourism and foreign ministries have welcomed the international recognition, expressing hope that UNESCO’s decision will strengthen opposition to what they describe as Israeli land seizures around Sebastia.
Israel rejects attempts to diminish Jewish historical ties
Israel’s position differs sharply from that of Palestinian residents and critics of the development plans. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has argued that an international organisation’s decision cannot alter historical ties between the Jewish people and the West Bank.
“No vote in an international organisation can change history,” Gideon Saar said.
The archaeological site itself contains evidence from multiple periods, illustrating the long and complex history of the area. The dispute therefore involves competing claims over both land and the interpretation and management of historical heritage.
Israeli activist says local community should be involved
Israeli activist Alon Arad, who heads Emek Shaveh, an Israeli organisation advocating shared access to the region’s ancient heritage, said Israeli authorities had bypassed consultation with Sebastia’s local administration and residents.
“The thing is that Israel is not the owner of this place. This is a Palestinian heritage site. And in order to develop it in a positive way, it has to be done with the local community, with the municipality, so they can benefit.”
Arad argues that archaeological development should involve the community living around the site rather than being used as a mechanism for changing control over land.
Herodium faces a separate land dispute
The controversy extends beyond Sebastia. At Herodium, a hilltop palace-fortress built by King Herod near Bethlehem, Israeli authorities have begun expropriating about 80 acres for what they describe as the preservation and development of the archaeological site.
Peace Now, an Israeli organisation that monitors settlements, argues that international law and Israeli Supreme Court rulings restrict the use of expropriation for settlement purposes or exclusively for the benefit of Israeli citizens.
The organisation says the state would likely argue that development at the site is intended to serve both Palestinian and Israeli populations if the legality of the expropriation is challenged.
Supporters say Israel has a duty to protect archaeological sites
Not everyone involved in the archaeological debate agrees with the criticism. Shmuel Browns, who has worked on excavations at Herodium and leads tours there, said Israeli archaeologists and officials need to be able to protect locations with major historical and religious significance.
“Israel feels responsible to look after the archaeology, the artifacts, the history of this land,” Browns said.
His position reflects the Israeli argument that state involvement is necessary to preserve archaeological remains and historical artefacts in the West Bank.
Proposed law would have expanded archaeological powers
The debate has also reached Israel’s parliament. Earlier this year, far-right members of the Israeli government proposed legislation that would have transferred control of archaeological sites from the Civil Administration, which operates under military authority, to the Israeli heritage ministry.
The proposed law would also have granted broad powers to seize land for archaeological preservation across the West Bank. The bill passed its first parliamentary reading in May but has since been placed on hold as elections approach.
It remains uncertain whether the legislation will return for further consideration.
Critics accuse Israel of weaponising archaeology
For critics of Israeli policy in the West Bank, the proposed legislation is evidence that archaeology has become part of a wider struggle over land and political control.
“You use archaeology, you use it in order to do excavations and to the narrative, to rewrite history, but you also use it in order to allocate lands or reallocate lands from Palestinian to Israeli,” Alon Arad said.
The accusation is strongly contested by those who view archaeological preservation as a responsibility to protect historical and religious heritage. The competing positions have made Sebastia and Herodium focal points in a broader dispute over land, heritage and control in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinians fear losing connection with Sebastia ruins
For residents of Sebastia, the issue is ultimately about more than the preservation of ancient stones. Palestinians living around the archaeological site fear that changes to land ownership, access and management could weaken their longstanding connection with the ruins and surrounding farmland.
With UNESCO now placing Sebastia among the world’s protected heritage sites and warning of threats to its integrity, the dispute is likely to remain an international issue alongside the continuing disagreement over who should control and develop the archaeological landscape.
