The Knesset plenum approved the first reading of the Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority Bill on Tuesday, May 12. Sponsored by Likud MK Amit Halevi, the legislation aims to establish direct state responsibility for archaeological sites, heritage, and antiquities within Judea and Samaria.
Proposed Administrative Shift
Under the proposal, the Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority would operate as an independent professional administration. Its primary objectives would be to reduce damage to heritage sites and streamline their management. To ensure operational stability, the legislation seeks to legally guarantee funding for the authority through the budget of the Ministry of Heritage.
According to the Knesset’s readout of the plenum session, the new body would be regulated similarly to the Israel Antiquities Authority, including the appointment of a director and a council. The authority would be responsible for several key functions, including:
- The excavation, development, and management of heritage and antiquity sites.
- The acquisition and expropriation of land for these purposes.
- Supervision and enforcement against offenses in the field.
- The coordination of archaeological information.
Currently, these responsibilities fall under the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories rather than a civilian body, as the areas are not under full Israeli civil law.
Rationale and Sovereignty
MK Amit Halevi told JNS that the bill is intended to address a “longstanding failure” to protect Israel’s heritage in the region. He characterized the loss of hundreds of sites and antiquities treasures over the years as “a true crime against our nation and against history.”
Halevi described the bill as historic, noting that it would mark the first time Israel implements Israeli law directly over sites in Judea and Samaria. While he asserted that “the law does not change the status of the land,” he stated it makes it clear that “Israel can legislate in Judea and Samaria through formal legislation.” He further noted that the move comes after 59 years of neglect following the Six-Day War.
Religious Zionist Party MK Ohad Tal also supported the legislation, describing it as “correcting this historic injustice.” Tal argued that the Palestinian Authority has systematically looted and destroyed assets he defined as both universal and Jewish heritage. He stated that the bill represents “another vital step toward the fulfillment of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”
Claims of Neglect and Misclassification
The Regavim movement, a research-based advocacy organization focused on sovereignty and land use, provided data indicating that the scientific community recognizes approximately 6,000 sites of archaeological and historical importance in Judea and Samaria, with about 2,300 officially declared as protected.
Regavim argues that the Palestinian Authority has failed to meet its obligations under the Oslo Accords and the Oslo II Agreement to protect sites in Areas A and B or ensure non-discriminatory access. Naomi Linder Kahn, director of Regavim’s International Division, called the current lack of jurisdiction for the Israel Antiquities Authority “absolutely ridiculous.”
Kahn further alleged that the Palestinian Authority has reclassified significant remnants of the Bible and Jewish history as “Palestinian heritage sites,” which she claimed is “rewriting history and inventing a Palestinian Arab narrative out of the bedrock of our own national identity.” She maintained that Israel must intervene to stop further destruction.
Broader Context and Next Steps
This legislative move follows a February 8, 2026, decision by the Israeli Cabinet to authorize measures strengthening Israeli oversight of water violations, environmental hazards, and the protection of archaeological sites in Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria.
The legislative process is expected to continue in the coming weeks, as MK Halevi anticipates the bill will move toward its second, third, and final readings in the Knesset.
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