Palestine – Palestine called, yesterday, Saturday, to “confront” the decision to “annex and transfer control” of Palestinian archaeological sites to the Israeli Antiquities Authority.
This came in a statement by the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in response to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) approving a draft law that stipulates the extension of the powers of the Israeli Antiquities Authority over antiquities in the West Bank.
The ministry called on “UNESCO and all international institutions working in cultural heritage to confront the occupation government’s decision to annex and transfer control of Palestinian archaeological sites to the Antiquities Authority of the occupation government.”
She added, “These criminal acts aim to control the Palestinian heritage and plunder our people’s cultural resources.”
She added that “the Israeli occupation’s evasion of international legal responsibilities and agreements related to the protection of heritage is one of the evidences that this criminal occupation seeks, within its escalation policy, to obliterate the Palestinian heritage, which is considered a witness to the right of our people and their close connection to the land of Palestine.”
She saw the Israeli move as “a clear plan aimed at Judaizing Palestinian lands, empowering settlers, and isolating Palestinian cities and villages from each other.”
On Wednesday, the Knesset plenum approved, with a majority of votes from the coalition and opposition deputies, and with the support of the government, a draft law that would extend the powers of the Israel Antiquities Authority to antiquities in all areas of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (Madar).
According to the center, the bill initiated by MK Amit Halevi of the Likud bloc, “did not specify any areas in the West Bank,” considering it “one of the creeping annexation laws.”
The center says that the bill was included on the Knesset’s agenda starting from the 20th parliamentary term (2015-2019), and later, by members of the right-wing settler blocs, but this is the first time it has entered the legislative process.
On June 28, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved steps to “legitimize” settlement outposts and sanctions once morest the Palestinian Authority “to counter the recognition of a Palestinian state and the measures taken once morest Israel in international courts,” according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (official).
The authority added that among the measures is “enforcing the law in Area B once morest tampering with heritage sites and environmental risks.”
The 1995 Oslo II Agreement classified the West Bank into three areas: “A” under full Palestinian control, “B” under Israeli security control and Palestinian civil and administrative control, and “C” under Israeli civil, administrative and security control. The latter constitutes regarding 61 percent of the West Bank.
Anatolia
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2024-07-14 17:49:45
