Israeli occupation confiscates 1,800 dunams in Sebastia, Burqa under pretext of archaeological site development

WEST BANK, Nov. 20 (YPA) – Israeli occupation authorities have issued a new military order aimed at confiscating approximately 1,800 dunams (about 445 acres) of private land in the villages of Sebastia and Burqa in the northern West Bank, most of which is planted with olive trees.

The decision, considered the largest of its kind for “archaeological” purposes since 1967, is justified under the pretext of developing the Sebastia archaeological site. Residents were given a maximum of 14 days to submit their objections to the order, which encompasses the archaeological site and vast surrounding agricultural areas.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission confirmed that the decision complements previous orders to seize control of archaeological sites, noting that the confiscated area in Sebastia alone constitutes about 40% of the village’s land.

The Israeli organizations “Peace Now” and the archaeological organization “Emek Shaveh” considered the plan a violation of Palestinian residents’ rights and the utilization of tourism development as a cover to promote settlement and de facto annexation on the ground.

In May 2023, the Israeli occupation government allocated about 30 million shekels for excavation and development work in Sebastia, including plans to construct a new road leading to the site “without passing through the Palestinian village.”

YPA