The ancient sites of Sebastia and Herodium in the occupied West Bank are at the center of a heated dispute between Israeli authorities and Palestinian residents. The Israeli government claims these actions are necessary for archaeological preservation and tourism development but Palestinians see it as a means of land expropriation and cultural erasure.
In Sebastia, a village nestled in the hills above the ancient site, Palestinian families have cultivated olive fields for generations. However, the Israeli authorities have notified landowners, including Abu Mudif, that their land is part of approximately 450 acres being taken for the creation of a major national park. The expropriation process typically offers little or no compensation, and many Palestinians refuse it, viewing it as a recognition of their loss.
The Impact on Local Communities
The expropriation of land in Sebastia is not just an economic loss for residents like Abu Mudif, who describes it as having his soul ripped away. It also threatens the livelihoods of local business owners, such as Nahed Sakha, whose restaurant is under threat of demolition. The Israeli plan appears to cut off Palestinian residents from the archaeological site, which boasts significant remains from various historical periods, including the Romans, Crusaders, and Ottomans.
Restoration work and excavations have already begun, with landowners informed that they will no longer be able to use or plough their land. This has raised concerns among the local community, which has been echoed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Unesco has declared Sebastia a World Heritage Site and added it to the List of World Heritage in Danger citing the planned expropriation and creation of the ‘Samaria’ (Shomron) national park as the main threat.
The Role of Archaeology in the Conflict
Israeli activist Alon Arad, who heads Emek Shaveh, an Israeli group advocating for the shared heritage of the region, argues that the Israeli authorities have bypassed consultation with the local administration and residents. He emphasizes that Israel is not the owner of this place and that any development should be done in collaboration with the local community to ensure they benefit.
The Israeli plans involve moving Sebastia’s entrance to the other side of the vast site, away from the village and current car park and shops. This has led the Palestinian tourism and foreign ministries to hope that Unesco’s recognition may bolster international support for their opposition to Israeli land seizures. However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has portrayed Unesco’s move as enabling Palestinian efforts to diminish historic Jewish ties to the West Bank.
Herodium: Another Site of Contention
Further south in the West Bank, near Jerusalem, lies Herodium, a manmade hill with an extraordinary palace built by King Herod. Israel has begun expropriating land around this site as well, claiming it is for preservation and development. Peace Now, an Israeli organization monitoring settlements, argues that under international law and rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court, Israel is prohibited from expropriating land for settlement purposes or exclusively for the benefit of Israeli citizens.
Shmuel Browns, a guide who has worked on excavations in Herodium, believes it is vital for Israeli archaeologists and officials to oversee and protect places of such historical and religious significance. However, there has been a push by far-right members of Israel’s current government to transfer control of archaeological sites to the Israeli heritage ministry, giving it sweeping powers to seize land for archaeological preservation across the West Bank.
Back in Sebastia, Alon Arad warns that the very fact that such a bill was proposed shows how archaeology itself has been weaponized in the West Bank. He argues that archaeology is being used to rewrite history and reallocate lands from Palestinian to Israeli. As the dispute continues, Palestinian residents of Sebastia fear that their close connection with the ruins is in danger of being lost.
