Antiquities Bill helps thwart Pally Propaganda

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-warn-west-bank-antiquities-bill-designed-to-expand-israeli-control/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-halts-palestinian-construction-work-amid-expansion-of-israel-antiquities-authoritys-powers/

Antiquities bill helps thwart Pally Propaganda and expand Israeli control of Judea and Samaria

Antiquities law would bring Israeli civil authority deep inside Judea and Samaria

Archeological site in the Samarian town of Sebastia, renowned for its rich Iron Age, Roman, and Byzantine ruins, widely believed to be the burial site of John the Baptist. It served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel.

Israeli authorities have issued orders to develop a state-managed archaeological park there.

In ancient times, the city of Sebastia was known as Shomron (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרוֹן, romanized: Šōmrôn) which derives from the Hebrew term שֹׁמֵר šōmēr meaning "watchman".^[14] The city bearing the ancient Hebrew name of Shomron later gave its name to the central region of the Land of Israel surrounding the city of Shechem (modern-day Nablus).^[15] In Greek, Shomron became known as Samaria.

Between 880-723/22 BCE, Samaria was the capital of the northern Israelite kingdom of Israel, also known as Samaria after its long-time capital.^[18] Under the four centuries long period of 723/22-322 BCE, it reached a golden age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastia,_Nablus

An Israeli bill would extend civil control over ancient sites in the West Bank and would expand Jewish settlements.

The bill, which aims to establish a “Judea, Samaria and Gaza Heritage Authority” under the Heritage Ministry, passed one of three votes in the Knesset in May.

The bill would bring management of Roman, Byzantine and Crusader-era sites in Judea and Samaria under Israeli Heritage Ministry management and allow related “expropriation and purchase of real estate” in the West Bank, which Israel calls by its Hebrew biblical name, Judea and Samaria.

That in effect would strip away oversight of some ancient sites from the Palestinian Authority.

Knesset member Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party, who has been key in advancing the new bill, says extending Israeli control over the sites is meant to safeguard ancient remnants dating back to biblical times.

“All the stories of the Bible, all our history, the people (of Israel) were born in Judea and Samaria.”

Antiquities in the West Bank have been significantly impacted by looting, vandalism and neglect.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-warn-west-bank-antiquities-bill-designed-to-expand-israeli-control/