Israel Moves to Seize West Bank Land, Historic Sebastia Site
Moayad Shaaban, head of the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, said the expropriation affects land in the towns of Sebastia and Burqa in Nablus governorate, and is a continuation of an earlier notice issued on 18 January 2025.
Shaaban added that the order is part of a broader strategy to use legal and administrative mechanisms to advance settlement goals, with the land to be allocated exclusively to Israeli settlers. He also noted that the seizure extends beyond the archaeological site to surrounding agricultural areas, including olive groves owned by Palestinian residents, effectively increasing Israeli control over the region.
Sebastia, situated along the main road connecting Nablus and Jenin, covers roughly 4,777 dunams (1,180 acres). The Palestinian Tourism Ministry states that the site dates back to the Bronze Age and contains remains from multiple civilizations, including Canaanite, Roman, Byzantine, Phoenician, and Islamic periods.
Reports from last November indicated that the Israeli Civil Administration was preparing to expropriate privately owned land in the area to develop the Sebastia site, including extensive Palestinian-owned olive orchards.
Earlier this month, the Israeli government implemented additional measures expanding enforcement powers in parts of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority, citing violations related to construction, water, and heritage.
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