"A new bill aimed at establishing an Israeli civilian authority to govern antiquities and archaeological sites in the West Bank has been denounced by campaign groups, which claim that it violates international law. The bill, which was approved for a first reading by members of Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation on 8 February, would grant "sweeping authority" to the minister of heritage-currently Amihai Eliyahu-to appoint the governing council, declare antiquity sites, and expropriate land and antiquities throughout the West Bank."
"The advocate groups Peace Now and the Geneva Initiative, along with the Israeli NGO Emek Shaveh, released a joint statement expressing their concern about the heritage bill. The letter described the bill as "extraterritorial annexation" that "poses a serious threat to the viability of a negotiated two-state solution." It also says that the bill violates the 1954 Hague Convention and the Fourth Geneva Convention, "which prohibit an occupying power from making permanent institutional changes or exercising sovereign rights"."
"The Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three administrative areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Under the accords, heritage in Area A and B is overseen by the Palestinian Authority (though Israel controls security in B) and Israel has authority over heritage sites in Area C. According to the release "The Oslo II framework recognised that these ancient sites are the shared heritage of both Israelis and Palestinians and stipulated for the establishment of a joint Israeli-Palestinian committee for governing antiquities (Anne"
A bill would establish an Israeli civilian authority to govern antiquities and archaeological sites across the West Bank, granting the heritage minister authority to appoint a governing council, declare antiquity sites, and expropriate land and antiquities. The bill passed a ministerial committee first reading and is scheduled for Knesset plenary readings. Israeli advocacy groups Peace Now, the Geneva Initiative, and Emek Shaveh condemned the proposal as extraterritorial annexation that threatens a negotiated two-state solution. The groups state the measure violates the 1954 Hague Convention, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the Oslo II framework assigning civilian heritage responsibility in Areas A and B to the Palestinian Authority.
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