Israel Bill Extends West Bank Control

Israel is advancing a bill, 'Heritage Authority in Judea and Samaria,' to extend civil control over ancient sites in the West Bank. This bill, which has passed one parliamentary vote, would transfer management of Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader-era sites to the Israeli Ministry of Heritage and allow for real estate expropriation. Palestinians and Israeli rights groups, including Peace Now, criticize this as an annexation measure that would expand Jewish settlements and confiscate Palestinian land, such as 1,800 dunams in the village of Palestine — Sebastia. The Palestine — Palestinian Authority would lose oversight of these sites, which it currently exercises under the Oslo peace accords. Israeli parliament member Zvi Sukkot, from the Israel — Religious Zionism party, argues the bill protects ancient remnants and affirms Israel's historical ties to the land. However, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities has warned that the bill could harm Israel's international relations in archaeology and other scientific fields. The United Nations and most countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.