Israel Reclaims Biblical Heritage in Judea and Samaria

The Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee is taking decisive action to advance a landmark bill that will establish the State of Israel's direct responsibility for antiquities in Judea and Samaria. This historic move corrects a decades-long oversight, ensuring that the physical evidence of our biblical past receives the protection and reverence it deserves.

Chaired by MK Zvi Sukkot, the committee is expediting the legislation for its final readings. Likud MK Amit Halevi, the bill's sponsor, expressed confidence that it will pass imminently, even as the Knesset faces potential dissolution next week. The legislation establishes the civilian Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority, shifting oversight from the Defense Ministry's military apparatus to a dedicated heritage body. This is a crucial step in affirming Israeli sovereignty over our ancestral heartland.

A Biblical Mandate, Not an Occupation

For too long, the archaeological treasures of Judea and Samaria have suffered under a military bureaucracy that lacks the mandate to properly preserve them. The new authority will have the power to excavate, conserve, and develop ancient sites, reclaiming our history from the looting and neglect that have plagued the region.