Israel Allocates 40 Million Shekels to Enhance Control Over Archaeological Sites in the West Bank

SadaNews - The Israeli government approved today, Sunday, an additional funding of 40 million shekels to enhance its control over archaeological sites in the occupied West Bank, as part of policies to Judaize and plunder historical sites under the pretext of "protecting national heritage."

The decision by Benjamin Netanyahu's government is part of a "long-term rescue plan that began in 2023" under the pretext of "combating the looting of antiquities, accelerating restoration and development works, and making national heritage sites accessible to the Israeli public."

The plan is supervised by the Israeli Minister of Heritage, Amihai Eliyahu, who announced that his ministry "will not wait to officially impose sovereignty over the West Bank," referring to the expansion of Israeli control over archaeological sites located in the occupied territory.

The decision includes archaeological sites throughout the West Bank, including its northern and southern regions and the northern Jordan Valley, which the occupation authorities claim are linked to Jewish history, seeking through this to seize them, erase their identity, and loot their contents.