Sebastia Heritage Site in West Bank Faces Israeli Land Seizure and UNESCO Bid

Israel has moved to expropriate about 500 acres of privately owned Palestinian land around the ancient hilltop of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank and earmarked $10 million to develop the area as a tourist attraction. The Palestinian Authority is simultaneously urging UNESCO to grant Sebastia World Heritage status, a decision currently under review. The archaeological mound, which contains layers from the biblical Kingdom of Israel, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Crusader periods, lies in Area C under full Israeli civil and security control, while the nearby town and its tourism infrastructure sit in Area B with mixed jurisdiction. Residents fear the seizure will block access to the site that sustains their tourism‑based economy. Local tourism developer Zaid Azhari said, “For us, this is our heart and our memory at the same time… I cannot imagine Sebastia without the archaeological site.”