Knesset Approves First Reading of Bill to Place West Bank Heritage Sites Under Israeli Control

The Israeli Knesset has passed the first reading of a controversial bill that seeks to place heritage, archaeological, and antiquity sites in the occupied West Bank under direct Israeli state control. Approved on Monday evening, the legislation proposes establishing a new body within Israel’s Heritage Ministry responsible for managing these sites. This entity would be granted extensive powers, including the authority to excavate, develop, and manage archaeological locations, as well as the power to expropriate and acquire land for these purposes. The bill must still pass second and third readings to become law. This legislative move follows recent actions by Israel’s Security Cabinet, such as repealing laws barring land sales to Jews in the West Bank and transferring building permit authorities. Critics, including Palestinian and international organizations, view these measures as steps toward de facto annexation without formal declaration. The development occurs against the backdrop of a July 2024 International Court of Justice opinion declaring Israel’s occupation illegal and calling for settlement evacuations, highlighting ongoing tensions regarding territorial control and international law in the region.