Israel Accused of Weaponising Archaeology at Ancient West Bank Sites

Rights groups and critics have accused Israel of weaponising archaeology in order to expand its footprint in historic, Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank, according to the BBC. The accusation centres on Israeli plans, described in the report, for large-scale land expropriations around a number of ancient heritage sites across the territory.

Critics say excavation and preservation projects at these sites have at times been used to justify restricting Palestinian access to land and to support the gradual expansion of Israeli control in the surrounding area. Israeli officials reject this characterisation, describing the work as legitimate historical and archaeological research rather than an instrument of land policy.

The BBC reported that the disputed sites lie in parts of the West Bank that Israel has occupied since 1967 and that Palestinians regard as part of a future state. The dispute over land use at these sites is expected to continue as excavation projects and expropriation plans move forward, the report said.