LONDON: Israeli settlers on Monday stormed an archaeological site in Sebastia, northwest of Nablus, as Palestinian leaders convened to advocate for the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Settlers entered the area under the protection of Israeli forces while Muslim, Christian and Samaritan religious leaders held a gathering at the site, according to the Palestine News Agency.
The Palestinian Authority submitted a request during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking place in Busan, South Korea, for Sebastia to be designated a World Heritage site.
Israeli settlers have made several attempts to assert control over the historical landmark located north of the occupied West Bank. Sebastia’s history spans more than 5,000 years and reflects the architectural and cultural influences of numerous powers in the Palestinian territories, including the Romans and the Crusaders.
The Israeli government plans to seize 1.8 million sq. meters of land near Sebastia, along the main road connecting Nablus and Jenin. An Israeli bill under consideration in the Knesset will place ancient sites in the occupied West Bank, such as Sebastia and Solomon’s Pools, under civil control, which rights groups say is tantamount to annexation.
The committee has previously designated the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls, the Old City of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque, Battir village and the Monastery of St. Hilarion in the Gaza Strip as World Heritage Sites.
