Palestinian officials welcomed UNESCO’s designation of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank as a World Heritage site, hoping it will prevent Israel from extending its control at the ancient village. Sebastia has archaeological remnants from successive periods dating back at least to the 9th-century BC capital of the Israelite kingdom.
Background
The site is traditionally seen as the burial place of John the Baptist and features olive trees, Roman columns, ancient walls, stone steps, and an amphitheatre. However, Palestinian residents of the adjacent village are facing land confiscations after Israel announced a plan to seize about 1,800 dunams (445 acres) at the site.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the UNESCO decision was part of a Palestinian drive to obscure Jewish ties to the land. Palestinian officials are also concerned about a new Israeli bill that would extend Israeli civil control over ancient sites in the West Bank.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
