Palestinians decry Israeli push for control over ancient West Bank sites

An Israeli bill that would extend civil control over ancient sites in the West ​Bank has drawn criticism from Palestinians and Israeli rights groups who say it is tantamount to annexation of occupied land and would expand Jewish settlements, Reuters reported.

The "Heritage ‌Authority in Judea and Samaria" bill passed one of three votes by Israel's parliament in May, but it is unclear whether the final vote will be held before parliament disperses ahead of an election expected by October 27.

The bill would bring management of Roman, Byzantine and Crusader-era sites under Israeli Ministry of Heritage management and allow related "expropriation and purchase of real estate" in the West Bank, which Israel calls by its Hebrew biblical name.

That in effect would strip away oversight of some ancient sites from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which under the 1990s Oslo peace accords has exercised limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war.

The PA's tourism minister, Hani Al-Hayek, said "control over ⁠these antiquities is intended to expand control and expand settlements in these areas, deep inside Palestinian territories."

Israel says the bill's purpose is to protect ancient sites.