Israel Plans to Expropriate Major Roman‑Era Site in West Bank, Drawing International Concern

Israeli authorities have moved to expropriate substantial portions of Sebastia, a Roman‑era archaeological site in the occupied West Bank, with an official order issued on November 12 listing parcels targeted for seizure. Rights groups say the area involved is roughly 1,800 dunams (about 180 hectares or 450 acres), which would make this one of the largest government actions affecting archaeologically important private land in the territory.

What the order says

The order identifies multiple parcels in the Sebastia area for expropriation and sets a 14‑day window for landowners to file objections. Officials have said the move is tied to plans to develop and promote the site for tourism; excavations have already begun and the government has allocated more than 30 million shekels (roughly $9.24 million) for development, according to rights groups monitoring the case.

Archaeological and historical context

Sebastia is widely regarded as sitting above the ancient capital of the kingdom of Samaria and is venerated in Christian and Muslim traditions that associate the site with the burial of John the Baptist. Supporters of the development argue it could boost tourism and conservation efforts, while critics warn that large‑scale expropriation of privately owned land risks dispossessing Palestinian owners and altering the character of the site.

Escalating tensions and related incidents

The announcement comes amid renewed tensions across the occupied West Bank. Rights groups and local sources report a pattern of settler activity and violence that, they say, frequently proceeds with little effective restraint. This week, settlers established a new unauthorized outpost near Bethlehem, and there were multiple attacks described by local witnesses and rights monitors.

Reports include dozens of settlers allegedly storming parts of Huwara and setting fire to a vehicle scrapyard, and an incident west of Ramallah where settlers, accompanied by soldiers according to witnesses, assaulted four Palestinian men who were attempting to remove a soil barrier placed by settlers in front of a farm near Kafr Nima; those four were later arrested by Israeli forces.

In a separate operation in East Jerusalem, local medical teams said two Palestinian teenagers, aged 16 and 18, were treated for serious gunshot wounds and later pronounced dead following an overnight raid. Human Rights Watch has also alleged that Israeli actions this year led to the forcible displacement of roughly 32,000 Palestinians from three West Bank refugee camps, a claim that has intensified scrutiny from international observers.

Responses and implications

Rights groups monitoring the Sebastia decision say the expropriation would exceed previous large‑scale archaeological land seizures, citing an earlier case in Susya where roughly 286 dunams were affected. Critics warn that the combination of accelerated development plans, rapid expropriation procedures and a backdrop of settler violence risks undermining Palestinian property rights and fueling further unrest.

The decision has drawn calls from international and local observers for clearer protections for civilians and for a review of security and legal practices that, critics say, have allowed settler violence to continue with limited accountability. Israeli officials, while asserting the development is intended to preserve and promote the site, face increasing pressure to ensure the process respects property rights and addresses broader security concerns.