An Israeli parliamentary bill proposing to bring several ancient sites in the West Bank under Israeli civil control has sparked opposition from Palestinian officials, Israeli rights groups, and scientific institutions. The legislation, known as the “Heritage Authority in Judea and Samaria” bill, passed an initial parliamentary vote in May but faces an uncertain future as the Israeli Knesset prepares for elections expected by October 27.

The bill aims to shift the management of archaeological sites dating from the Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader periods to the Israeli Ministry of Heritage. It would also authorize the expropriation and purchase of land in these areas. Israel refers to the West Bank by its biblical Hebrew name, Judea and Samaria. The move would reduce oversight of some ancient sites currently managed by the Palestinian Authority, which maintains limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank under the Oslo peace accords.

Palestinian Authority Tourism Minister Hani Al-Hayek criticized the legislation as a tool to expand Israeli control and settlements deep inside Palestinian territory. Similarly, the Israeli organization Peace Now described the bill as “an annexationist measure” that could lead to widespread confiscation of Palestinian land. The group said the government’s approach to archaeology as a justification for settlement expansion is unprecedented in scale.

A notable case is the Palestinian village of Sebastia in the northern West Bank, which is adjacent to an archaeological site containing ruins from the ancient Israelite kingdom as well as Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Ottoman eras. The site is on UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage status. In late 2025, Israel announced plans to expropriate approximately 445 acres of land in the area, affecting about 5,000 olive trees. Village officials said the plan threatens local water resources and infrastructure, framing it as a continuation of settlement expansion efforts.

Sebastia’s Deputy Mayor Nizar Kayed expressed concern that the residents would be left without essential resources. Local business owners have also felt the impact; tourism to the area has declined since late 2023 due to ongoing regional conflict, and some fear further isolation from their historic sites. Nahed Sakha, a restaurant owner in Sebastia, said the Israeli plan appears designed to separate the archaeological site from the local population.

Proponents of the legislation, including Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party, assert that the bill is intended solely to protect and preserve ancient relics connected to Israel’s biblical heritage. Sukkot denied that the bill alters the legal status of the territory, emphasizing the historical and cultural ties of the Jewish people to Judea and Samaria. His party, aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and supports annexation of the West Bank.

Internationally, most countries and U.N. bodies consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention’s prohibition on transferring civilian populations into occupied territory. Israel disputes this characterization, describing the West Bank as disputed land and referencing security concerns and historical claims.

The bill has also drawn criticism within Israel’s defense and scientific communities. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities issued an open letter to Netanyahu and Sukkot urging the legislation’s withdrawal, warning that it would damage Israel’s international relationships in archaeology and scientific research. The academy cautioned that the law could have broader negative repercussions beyond heritage management.