Israel to seize 180 hectares near Bronze Age heritage site in West Bank

Israel plans to seize 180 hectares of privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, under the pretext of developing a Bronze Age archaeological site near Sebastia. Palestinian officials argue the real goal is to expand the nearby Shavei Shomron settlement and connect it to the heritage area, effectively annexing the land. This action is reported to be the largest confiscation for archaeological purposes since 1967. The move is expected to block Palestinian access to the site, harm the local tourism-based economy, and put residents in constant contact with Israeli settlers and military forces.