'Use Antiquities for Annexation' Knesset Advances Bill Granting Sweeping Israeli Control Over West Bank Archaeology Sites
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 07:49PM The Likud-backed bill would grant a new government body powers to purchase and expropriate land in the West Bank, with stated plans to potentially expand its authority to Gaza. Archaeologists warn it would use heritage sites to advance annexation
by Noa Shpigel. 12 May 2026 Haaretz
The Roman theatre at Sebastia, in 2021. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
The Knesset overnight Tuesday advanced a bill that would significantly expand government control over antiquities, heritage sites and archaeology in the West Bank.
Under the proposal, introduced by Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi, a new independent body called the "Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority" – using the biblical term for the West Bank – would be established under the authority of the heritage minister, with powers to purchase and expropriate land.
The bill passed its preliminary reading by a vote of 23-14 and will return to the Knesset's Education, Culture and Sports Committee for further discussion.
The heritage minister who would oversee the new body is Amichai Eliyahu, a far-right member of Otzma Yehudit led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has repeatedly called for the annexation of the West Bank. In February, Eliyahu raised a massive Israeli flag atop the Sartaba archaeological site for the first time, declaring: "We are reclaiming what is ours."
Far-right Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu raises an Israeli flag in the Jordan Valley, February.
According to the proposal, the new authority "will hold exclusive responsibility for all matters relating to heritage, antiquities and archaeology in the area." Its powers would include excavating and managing sites, supervising archaeological digs and enforcing the law.
Authorities currently held by the archaeology staff officer in the Civil Administration – the IDF-appointed official overseeing antiquities in the West Bank – would be transferred to the new body.
As a result, the authority's jurisdiction would extend into Area B, which, under the Oslo Accords, is under Palestinian Authority civil control, and not only Area C, which remains under full Israeli civil and security control.
An archaeological dig near the West Bank village of Nabi Samwil. Credit: Emil Salman
During committee discussions in February, it was also noted that Halevi sought to authorize the body to operate in the Gaza Strip and rename it the "Yesha Heritage Authority," using the Hebrew acronym referring to the West Bank, Gaza and former Israeli settlements there.
One clause in the proposal states that the management and maintenance of nature reserves would continue to be governed by the existing military legal framework. However, in any dispute with other authorities, the new body's authority would prevail.
The bill further states that disputes concerning the preservation and management of holy sites would be referred to a committee made up of the head of the heritage authority, the head of the body empowered under Israel's holy sites regulations, and an additional member selected by a ministerial committee under the Antiquities Law.
Settlers ascend Mount Ebal in Area B, which is under Palestinian civilian control and requires a military escort for Israelis to visit. Credit: Hadas Parush
According to the group, "Anyone who truly wants to protect antiquities should invest in preventing looting, cooperating with local communities and professional institutions, and in the single most effective step for reducing destruction – a sweeping ban on the antiquities trade and the removal of the economic incentive that fuels it."
In a position paper submitted to the Knesset's Education Committee in February, the group warned that the proposal endangered archaeological research and could deepen Israel's professional isolation internationally.
The researchers also warned of the impact on communities living near archaeological sites, saying that "it can be assumed that nearly every village or community contains archaeological and historical remains of varying scope requiring archaeological oversight." They added that "expanding supervision creates broad openings for advancing racist and destructive policies."
The opinion paper concluded that the proposal is "a flawed initiative that contradicts international law, diplomatic agreements signed by Israel and the rules of professional ethics. It is a blatant attempt to use archaeology as cover for annexation and apartheid measures, while severely harming scientific independence and Israel's international standing."
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