Utolsó frissítés: 2026.06.03. — Szerző: Anti-Propaganda News Blog
Israel’s expropriation of large tracts of land near archaeological sites in the West Bank is part of the Netanyahu government’s efforts to extend Israeli control over those sites. An Israeli settler leader is planning a new tourist observation point, which, according to a nonprofit organization, will damage the site.
The Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank has begun the process of expropriating 320 dunam (79 hold) of land near the Herodion archaeological site, including sections that are privately owned by Palestinians.
Herodion is located near the Palestinian village of Zaatara, south of Bethlehem, and is surrounded by Israeli settlements that make up the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. The Civil Administration of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a press release that the land is being expropriated „for the purpose of preserving and protecting archaeological and heritage sites.”.
The statement added that the move is expected to „lead to the expansion of conservation and research activities at the site, the discovery of additional archaeological and historical artifacts, and the development of the site for future generations.”.
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Israel’s expropriation of large tracts of land near archaeological sites in the West Bank is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s effort to extend Israeli control over these sites. Over the past year, the Civil Administration has also initiated two other large-scale expropriation proceedings.
The first was a 1,800-dunam (445-hold) plot in the northern part of the West Bank, near Tel Sebastia, northwest of Nablus; the second—just last month—was an 110-dunam plot near Nabi Samuel, north of Jerusalem. The land at Nabi Samuel, traditionally regarded as the tomb of the prophet Samuel, was expropriated from the Waqf, a Muslim religious endowment.
Herodion dates back to the Roman era, some 2,000 years ago. King Herod had it built to serve as a palace, a fortress, and a tomb. In 2007, archaeologist Ehud Netzer discovered Herod’s tomb inside a magnificent mausoleum that had previously been destroyed.
According to Netzer’s hypothesis, the mausoleum was destroyed by Jewish rebels who were hiding there during the First Jewish Revolt against Rome, which lasted from 66 to 70 CE. Herodion was designated a national park in 1985.
In January, Yaron Rosenthal, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, announced plans for a new tourist observation deck overlooking the historic Herodion basin. Emek Shaveh, an Israeli anti-settlement group founded by archaeologists, sharply criticized the plan at the time.
„For this to happen, modern concrete would have to be poured to fill in the collapsed arches, the ancient sewer would have to be lined with industrial materials to prevent leaks, and in effect, a 2,000-year-old relic would be transformed into a modern sewer system wrapped in antique decorations,” the organization stated.
At the same time, the debate on a bill to establish an archaeological authority in the West Bank was halted due to Netanyahu’s opposition, a coalition source told Haaretz on Tuesday.
The bill stipulates that the authority to be established would be granted, among other things, the power to purchase and expropriate land, and that responsibility for these matters would be transferred from the Civil Administration to the new authority.
The bill, which was passed on first reading in the plenary session about two weeks ago, has so far been pushed forward despite opposition from the Archaeological Authority, the Archaeological Council, the Ministry of Defense, the Knesset Legal Advisory Committee, the National Academy of Sciences, and other institutions.
The organization Peace Now also criticized the decision regarding the land expropriation near Herodion.
„The government is trying to make the most of every moment until the elections to create new facts on the ground and pave the way for the full annexation of the West Bank,” their statement reads.
„Tourism and archaeological sites represent another form of settlement policy,” Peace Now stated. The purpose of these sites is „not only to gain control over vast tracts of land, but also to control our minds—to suppress the Palestinians” connection to the land, and transforming this territory into exclusively Jewish land, both in terms of sovereignty and heritage,” they added.
„This policy condemns us to many more years of painful and bloody conflict, which will only be resolved if we succeed in reaching a compromise on this land that is dear to both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Source: haaretz.com
