West Bank

Knesset Committee Finalising Annexationist Antiquities Bill Ahead of Final Vote

The Knesset’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee is working to finalise the bill that will establish a civilian authority under the Ministry of Heritage to govern antiquities in the West...

ALERT: New Civilian Authority to Govern Antiquities in the West Bank

Legislation to Establish a Civilian Authority to Govern Antiquities in the West Bank Passes First Vote Yesterday, May 11, 2026, during the opening of the final session of the 25th Knesset,...

Urgent Alert: Israeli Cabinet Decisions

The Israeli Cabinet Decisions Authorize Enforcement in Area A Overriding Palestinian Jurisdiction at Antiquity Sites; Ministerial Committee Approves advancing New Annexationist Antiquities Law to First Reading The Israeli cabinet approved...

Unprecedented Annexation Move: Knesset Committee Votes to Establish a Civilian Authority to Govern Antiquities in the West Bank

This alert is submitted jointly on behalf of Peace Now, Emek Shaveh, and the Geneva Initiative: Executive Summary On February 3, 2026, the Knesset’s Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, chaired...

Urgent: Following Knesset committee discussion, Annexationist Bill Disguised as Antiquities Protection set to be finalized next week ahead of vote

On Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the Knesset’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee, chaired by MK Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism), held its fourth discussion on legislation that would extend Israeli civilian...

Urgent update: ICA moves to expropriate entire Sebastia acropolis in a major step toward annexation

The Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) issued an expropriation notice for the entire acropolis of Sebastia and surrounding area, in a grave development that represents annexation of one of the region’s...

Government approves additional 40 million NIS for ancient sites in the West Bank

The Israeli government decided on Sunday, October 26th, to allocate a further 40 million NIS for archaeological sites in the West Bank for 2025-2026. The new funds come from budget cuts across government...

Statement on Attack on Holy Family Church in Gaza, new developments in Hebron, and summary of the 47th World Heritage Committee Session regarding sites in E. Jerusalem, W.Bank and Gaza  

The following includes Emek Shaveh’s statement regarding last Thursday’s attack on the Roman Catholic Church in Gaza, new developments at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, and an update...

Knesset Deliberations on Annexationist Archaeology Bill to Continue; Conference on Archaeology in “Judea and Samaria” opens in Jerusalem

Knesset Committee to Deliberate Bill to Expand Israel Antiquity Authority’s Jurisdiction into the West Bank The proposed legislation to extend the Israel Antiquities Authority’s (IAA) Jurisdiction into the West Bank will...

Summary of Knesset Committee Discussion of Bill to Expand IAA’s Jurisdiction into West Bank

Last week, November 27th, the Knesset’s Education, Culture, and Sports Committee discussed a proposed bill to expand the Israel Antiquities Authority’s jurisdiction into the West Bank in a move that...