Tehran – In a move described by critics as a systematic effort to confiscate Palestinian heritage, the Israeli government unilaterally declared 63 archaeological sites on the occupied West Bank as “Israel’s historic and archaeological sites.”
The decision, enacted through a military order, elicited condemnation by violating international law and accelerating the elimination of Palestinian cultural identity.
The order was issued on August 10, 2025 by Brigadier General Moti Almoz, Director of the Israeli Citizens. The title “Judea and Samaria (No. 6611–6891)” was titled “The Directive is an amended version of the older Jordanian law, declaring the site as an ancient belt of state control.
The distribution of target sites is heavily concentrated in the north West Bank, with 59 of the 63 sites being found only in Nablus Governature. Governor Ramallah contains three sites, while Salfit includes one site.
This latest order is not an isolated incident, but part of a long-term strategy to integrate Israeli authorities’ control over Palestinian cultural resources. Following the occupation in 1967, Israel recognized its authority over ancient times in the hands of military governors.
Critics argue that this legal framework is designed to enhance Israel’s grasp of Palestinian archaeological resources, and to control and misuse them as part of a “reconciliation project.”
The military booklet also included an order redefine the boundaries of ten Israeli settlements on the West Bank. The proximity of many newly declared “Israel archaeological sites” in particular to the existing settlements in Nablus and the previous post base suggests coordinated policies.
This classification of Palestinian heritage as Israel constitutes a clear violation of international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention on the protection of cultural property in the case of armed conflicts and the Geneva Convention. These practices expressly prohibit occupation rights from altering the historical and cultural character of the occupied territory or exploiting them for political purposes.
“This is very disappointing and worrying,” the source text states, emphasizing the failure of the international community to respond. “This should not happen right in front of us as an international community with a professional and ethical responsibility to respond to these violations and defend accountability to suspend these actions.”
Instead of protecting Palestinian heritage, Israeli occupation authorities systematically classify more than 2,400 Palestinian archaeological sites on the West Bank as “Israel archaeological sites,” using military orders to justify control and justify for confiscation. This practice is widely seen as a direct threat to Palestinian national identity and a tool to justify ongoing settlement companies.
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